Not satisfied with the comforts of home, bedbugs are migrating to public places like movie theaters and retail stores and then hitching rides on unsuspecting consumers. Not only are bedbugs a growing problem, they are also a hard problem to get rid of. Better Business Bureau recommends doing your research to find a pest control company you can trust to get the job done efficiently.

According to a recent survey by the Pest Management Association, 95 percent of exterminators had encountered a bed bug infestation in the previous year—compared to only 25 percent of respondents ten years prior.  While homes are the most common place for infestations, bedbugs also invade hotels, movie theaters, clothing stores and offices.

“When you discover an infestation in your home or business, you want to act quickly and get a professional in there fast,” said Kim States, BBB President. “Despite the urgency of the problem, you still need to do your research and make sure you are enlisting the help of a qualified and trustworthy pest control specialist.

When hiring a pest control company, BBB recommends that home and business owners consider the following:

Start with BBB.

Always research a business with your BBB first. BBB maintains reports on good and bad exterminators across North America.  You can use BBB’s Accredited Business Locator to quickly find local companies that uphold BBB’s standards for ethical business practices.

Credentials count.

Make sure the exterminator has sufficient training and certifications. Ideally, the company will also be a member of a national or local trade association.  Also research the company with your local pest (more…)

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is alerting consumers to AAA Africanized Bee Removal (AABR), a Tucson-based bee removal company that has repeatedly misled consumers by using BBB’s logo in its advertisements, despite not being Accredited, and having an ‘F’ rating with BBB.

In a recent complaint against the company, Andrea Barber- a Tucson consumer- provided BBB with a copy of AABR’s business card, which unlawfully uses BBB’s logo.

“It’s very misleading,” she told BBB. “To put a Better Business Bureau logo on their card is unconscionable.”

This is not the first time AABR has used BBB’s logo without authorization. AABR was notified of trademark infringement in 2005, 2006, and 2009 for using BBB’s logo in their yellow pages ads and on their business cards.

In 2006 and 2007 BBB spoke with the company on multiple occasions, and informed them that BBB’s logo was a registered trademark, and the company was not authorized to use it. AABR has an ‘F’ rating with four unanswered complaints, and is not eligible to be a BBB Accredited Business.

If consumers see a business advertising their Accreditation with BBB they can call (520)888-5353 or visit www.tucson.bbb.org to double check the business’ Accreditation status.