JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Northside family is battling a bedbug infestation they say came from rented furniture. Turn over Kia and Eileen Holloway's couch or loveseat and you'll see dozens of creeping, crawling, biting bed bugs.
"It's no getting rid of them. And I'm so uncomfortable living here," Eileen Holloway said.
The sisters said the problem started in February, a couple of weeks after they rented the furniture from Aaron's.
Kia Holloway noticed bug bites all over her 18-month-old son.
"He had them all over his body. From scratching so much, he's got sores on him," she said.
The Holloways said the infestation has gotten so bad, they've had to throw out the beds in their childrens' rooms "so they have no where to sleep right now," said Kia.
They say they've called Aaron's repeatedly to take care of the problem.
"We're still making payments and like for what? We can't entertain guests or anything," said Kia.
Action News went to the store on Lem Turner Road to try and get some answers for them.
An employee referred us to the corporate office which sent us this statement: "Aaron's, Inc. cares about our customers and associates. That's the value we've built the business on for 59 years. When a concern is raised with us, Aaron's fully reviews the matter and works diligently with our customers in an attempt to keep them as fully satisfied customers. Each and every customer concern is taken seriously, including any report of bedbugs.
"The National Pest Management Association reminds consumers that bedbugs are very elusive, transient pests. Bedbugs can attach to clothing or luggage when traveling, can spread rapidly from apartment to apartment or room to room, and hide in cracks and crevices in furniture or baseboards. While it is well understood that it is extremely difficult to determine the source of bedbugs, Aaron's has a robust Quality Assurance program that includes inspection and treatment of its merchandise prior to lease or purchase by a customer. Timing issues also compound the difficulty in determining the origin of bedbugs. Additionally, there are many other differentiating factors involved in reports of bedbugs and Aaron's approaches each issue as an individual incident and works toward a mutually agreeable resolution based upon the particular facts involved. Aaron's has partnered with Orkin, the nation's largest pest control management company, who not only provides professional pest control management services for our stores, but their experts have reviewed and approved our Quality Assurance Program regarding bedbug inspection and treatment."
"I've even offered to bring it to them. I just want it to go," said Eileen Holloway.
The Holloways said the store was supposed to send someone out Monday to assess the situation. They want their money back or new furniture. They said they will consider a lawsuit if they the company doesn't correct the problem.
Action News told you in June about another Jacksonville family that has filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against Aaron's after a bed bug infestation.
We're still waiting to hear the results of the store's visit to the Holloways' home.
WJAX
