By Jeff Chirico, CBS Atlanta Investigative Reporter
RIVERDALE, Ga.
WATCH VIDEO
A Clayton County woman said a discount mattress store refused to refund her money after she found bedbugs on the bedding.
Twanna Walton of Riverdale paid $300 for a mattress from Mattress 4 Sale on Highway 85. She said when she removed the plastic from the mattress three weeks after it was delivered, she found two bedbugs.
“I thought the bed was brand new,” said Walton.
Mattress 4 Sale owner Islam Shelbayah told CBS Atlanta News he didn’t know if Walton’s bed was new or rebuilt. Rebuilt is the term Shelbayah said is used to describe mattresses that contain coils or other parts from old mattresses.
CBS Atlanta News can not verify where the bedbugs came from.
Reporter Jeff Chirico asked Shelbayah how he knows that customers won’t take home a bed with bedbugs. Shelbayah responded, “because I haven’t had any complaints.”
Federal law requires a mattress with old materials have a tag or label saying so. According to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection, there is no state law imposing requirements on sanitizing or labeling of used mattresses before they are resold.
Shelbayah admitted he doesn’t tell customers a mattress contains old material unless he’s asked.
“If I get asked, I will tell people,” said Shelbayah. He said he doesn’t lie about the product.
Shelbayah pointed to a sign that clearly disclosed his “no refund” policy.
He said he offered to exchange Walton’s bed but she did not want another mattress from Mattress 4 Sale.
“I want my money back,” said Walton.
Consumer advocates recommend shoppers in the market for new mattress should look for a white tag that reads “all new material.”
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