I was so disgusted by the previous rating that I decided to tell my story and experience with the Parliaments. I am a true believer, that as a hard worker, mother, wife and citizen, that people should not be led on.

Now, I have lived in the Northern Virginia area since birth, born and raised. I am very familiar with the Parliaments. Now, I heard negative reports about the community, but, I am not one to go on hearsay alone. Anyhow, when I found out in July 07 that we were expecting our second child, we were excited, and knew that we would need to find a bigger apartment. We were renting in Woodburn Village from a private owner, and loved it, but would need a bigger place. I researched, and the Parliaments had affordable rents, and larger floor plans. We decided on the two bedroom and a den...it was very nice. The rent was $1505 per month...which was $20 cheaper than we were doing previously. We moved in to the apartment August 2007. I immediately fell in love...on the surface, it was beautiful. Bright, spacious...clean. There were a few issues...the balcony door was painted shut, and took lots of tugging to get open (every time); the hall bathroom apparently had severe water damage as the wall and ceiling behind and below the toilet were damaged...and just painted over...and the toliet itself was sitting at a slant. The medicine cabinets were very old...ancient...but, otherwise, the apartment wasn't bad. The carpet was nice and fluffy and brand new.

Let me stop and just say, that there are some office staff who were always kind and courteous. I would be doing an injustice if I refused to acknowledge them. Our leasing consultant was Starr (dont know if that is her real name), and I did converse frequently with Iliana or something to that affect. Tracy, on the other hand...who is the manager, seems to think that the Assistant Manager of the Parliaments is the equivalent to Vice President of the United States. She on the surface, tries to appear very polite and respectful, but, it seems to be hard for her...its obvious its not really her. She is rude...and borders on disrespectful...and needs to realize that her job...in the grand scheme of things...really isnt that important. Someone may want to share this with her!!!

Back to the apartment. All of the neighbors I did come in to contact with in the short time that we lived there were polite. There was a gentleman who lived directly under us...I am assuming a single guy, very nice, do not get me wrong...but I assume he was very proud of his surround sound...because if we were sitting in our living room or dining room...we were privy to whatever it was he was watching on television or listening to, music wise. I would get very annoyed, but my husband would say..."thats apartment living." I would beat on the floor some times...but, obviously he could not hear it! But, I will say, that every time we saw him...he was always polite! So, you kind of let things slide...I never complained about him.

Parking...is absoultely horrible. My work hours are 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m...so, at this time of the evening, you can forget parking any where close to your apartment. If I was lucky, I would be able to park on the main road, Eastmoreland...parallel parking...*sigh*. And being pregnant with a 6 year old...and husband with low vision...it was a bit unnerving. I guess I should have felt reassured because of the "community guard." Yeah...not so much.

Pests...This is where you REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION. Roaches...I only saw one. I tried to get the sucker, but he was too fast for me! I was vaccuming...tried to get him...but, he ran under the carpet! Ugh. I am petrified of these things. I dont do bugs! An exterminator did come in once...(just to let you know...we moved out October 1), and he put some sticky brown stuff in the medicine cabinets and I believe in the kitchen cabinets...I guess to make it seem as if they were doing something...that just seems inaffective if you ask me. There was an issue with spiders...but, I'd prefer spiders to what I am about to share with you.

Now, we moved in to the apartment in August. Shortly after, I noticed these small brown bugs on the wall in my son's room. Never having seen them before, I assumed they were again...apartment bugs. We didnt have issues with bugs when we lived at Woodburn Village...*sigh*. I would kill the bugs...and think nothing more about them. Well, a few weeks after moving in, I developed a rash on my arms...I thought that perhaps it was my soap...so I changed soap. When that didnt work...I asked my OB if it were an allergic reaction to my pregnancy (I know...kind of weird, right'); of course, she said it wasnt. The rash was itchy and annoying. I was so embarrassed that I started wearing long sleeve shirts to work. Now, please keep in mind that I continued to see the bugs in my sons room...never saw them in my room...

One day, I just happened to be sitting in the dining room on my laptop, and my husband was watching the news. The report was about a college student who was suing her college/dormitory because they had bed bugs and she broke out in a horrible, horrible rash. I started thinking...so I decided to google an image of bed bugs. TO MY HORROR, THEY LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE THE FREAKIN BUGS IN MY SONS ROOM. I was absolutely disgusted. Not to drag the story out...but, I'd love to share it with anyone who is interested...the dang apartment had bed bugs!!! I was allergic to their saliva; however, neither my husband nor my son were allergic. To make a long story short, I phone the office, they sent an exterminator, he confirmed they were bed bugs, he stated they were coming from somewhere else...not our apartment, but, the office stated that I would need to pay $400 to pay for the bed bug treatment, but because no one else in the building was complaining, they were not going to exterminate the entire building...logically, this did not make sense. I spoke with Orkin, Terminex, as well as their exterminators, Triple S, and they all (experts mind you) agreed that if there was a problem building wide, just doing this one apartment would not solve the issue and they (bed bugs) would return. Plus, the treatment was not guaranteed. I did enough research over the weeks after learning what these nasty critters were...to know that there really is no 100% guaranteed treatment to eliminate bed bugs in the U.S. They had been eliminated form the US in the 50's I believe...but has since been prohibited from use. The office management really didnt care...but, honestly, who does' They weren't getting eaten up, going to work with rashes...their son was not afraid to go to sleep in his room...and to this day...still is afraid some nights to sleep in his bed...and they were not afraid for the safety and well-being of their soon to be newborn child. So, I decided to move out. We terminated our lease agreement.

There is a lot that happened in between...Southern Management who owns/manages the Parliaments sent us a statement stating that we owed them OVER $15,000. But, we fought it...they eventually suckered someone in to renting the apartment...so, the amount was reduced to about $1796...and they threatened and harassed until they annoyed the crap out of me. I wrote a long and serious letter to the President, Vice President, Residential Director...and another individual, copying the Property Manager of the Parliaments, and the annoying guy who kept harassing us...and then we received a call...that "you can settle your debt for $1796." I just decided to settle.

But let me tell you what we lost...ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING. We had to get rid of ALL of our furniture and our belongings. The individual at the extermination company stated that they could treat the furniture; however there was still the risk of not killing the bugs as they are so small and able to hide in the smallest cracks and crevices...well...that was enough for me!!! I got rid of everything. Beds, mattresses, dressers, couches, tables, you name it. EVERYTHING. I kept our clothes and linens...thats it...because they can be salvaged. Teh only thing is to wash them in extremely hot water, with a strong detergent...and then dry them in very hot temperature. Ugh. It was a task. Many trips to the laundromat...and I even purchased a portable washer and dryer to do some in the apartment.

If you'd like to know more about our horrible experience, please, by all means, email me, or reply to this posting.

I feel we were victims, treated unfairly and taken advantage of. But, you live and you learn. I have learned TONS about bedbugs...lol...a mini professional/expert...and know that there are many properties in Fairfax County with such issues (according to the Health Department).

My advice would be to shop around when you are looking for a place to live, take the ratings seriously...there are some who may over exaggerate...but there is a lot of truth in their responses. Also, just because its "affordable," doesnt mean you are going to like it. It is worth it to pay more...you get what you pay for.

Safe hunting!!!

User Responses
From: NavyJamie	Date: 03/12/2008
I honestly think this is fair posting. Im not going to sit here and say I dont feel bad about your situation. Its very unfortunate. I dont have bugs in my apartment. I did however have a spider that decided to build a huge web in the living room but i was amazed more than disgusted lol. This apt complex does have many people from different parts of the world and unfortunately we cannot control what they bring. Did they try and charge you that large amount b/c of the exterminator? What was there justification? just curious
From: jhuh.wlf	Date: 09/03/2008
I have a client who, along with her child, was severely bitten by bedbugs at the Parliament. If you have any information about bedbugs at the Parliament that you want to share, please call me at (703) 914-1155. Ask for Jason. Thank you.
From: Anonymous	Date: 10/10/2008
my friends in "garden buildings" paid $2400 for bed begs, in a span of about 6 months and had to get rid of beds, cauches etc
From: Anonymous	Date: 11/17/2008
I live in the highrise and one of my neighbors had to have one whole bedroom wall sprayed because the empty apartment next to hers was infested with bed bugs. The people who lived above this apartment had to have everything sprayed so these nasty things wouldnt spread to an upper floor. I have lived in apartments but never experienced bed bugs and hope to never again.

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