Yesterday at noon a car pulled into the drive and sat there. We went out to see who it was and it was a census employee. He informed me that I had been "randomly" selected to complete a survey. I told him I didn't want to do a survey. He stressed that it was important and that companies wanted to know the information that he was going to ask for. Cities and counties also needed my information. I told him I had already answered all the questions for the census that I intended to, which was how many people live in the house. He informed me again that this was only a survey, not the census. I told him again I did not care to participate. THAT is when he began to inform me that there was a fine for not participating. He went and dug around in the car and came up with a blue sheet of paper with a paragraph at the bottom that informed the reader that indeed there was a fine for not participating in "the survey", but gave no documentation that could be verified. I declined to take his survey again. He then wanted my name and address. I did not give my name, but the address was on the mailbox anyway so I gave it to him. Somehow or other, it really hacks me off to have people I don't know pull up on my property and demand information from me, then threaten me when I chose not to give it.

Has anyone else had this problem, and if so, did you complete the original census? I suspect strongly this is just another form of follow up with a whole new name.

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), December 06, 2000

Answers

I have not had that experience but I assure you I would not cooperate. I think you did the right thing. Hang in there.

-- Joe (jcole@apha.com), December 06, 2000.

Green,

By law, the census occurs once every ten years. There is no follow up. But there ARE people who want to case your property to find out what's worth stealing. Call the sheriff. If these people are legit, then you can ask for THEIR name, address, and phone number and some form of i.d. from the state or county. If they show you that, then what they're doing is STILL illegal.

(:raig

-- Craig Miller (CMiller@ssd.com), December 06, 2000.

He had a picture ID allegedly from the census, and I know the census conducts various and assorted census throughout the ten year intervals, but to my knowledge they are supposed to be voluntary. I know a census worker came to my uncle one time and asked him if he would complete a farm census. They asked how many cows, pigs, horses, chickens, etc. he had, how old his tractor was, etc. But it was voluntary. I have no intention of answering a survey. If or when they come back, I intend to inform them they are trespassing and if they refuse to leave, I intend to call the sheriff. Some of us are just old and crabby.

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), December 06, 2000.

Our census has been over and done with,including followups,as far as I know.One came here bc the long form on the old house had not been filled out fully.No one lives there,so there was nothing to fill out.We told him that and that sufficed.

Our Census workers had a clipon ID but it didn't have a picture on. Call the police and give the description.Call your U.S. senator or representatives office and complain,as well in case it was abt. not completing the long form.Did the vehicle have a government plate?

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), December 06, 2000.

I didn't get the long or short census form in the mail or anywhere else, and was at home loading trailers one day when the worker, ie repugnant little warthog, blazed down my driveway and started demanding information. Drove a little maroon Chevy S10 pickup with custom mags and some stickers on the back window. Very identifiable vehicle and driver. I told him I was just dropping off trailers and the owner wasn't at home. He threatened me, and I threatened him in return, he left. From time to time in the evenings, like after 8 or 9 p.m., I see this little warthog stop in front of my house. Not often, just once in a blue moon. Don't know if I"ve been chosen 'randomly' or not. Don't really give a flip.

-- Hannah Maria Holly (hannahholly@hotmail.com), December 06, 2000.

Just because people lie to you does not mean the gov't had anything to do with it. Treat him like he injured your cat and kill him.

-- JLS in NW AZ (stalkingbull007@AOL.com), December 06, 2000.

I found this article on Worldnetdaily today about further information gathering.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_fosterj_news/20001206_xnfoj_censu s_200.shtml

-- Sandra (sklukas@mail.state.tn.us), December 06, 2000.

Sandra, I looked up and read the article. The man didn't have any glossy brochure. He did have an attitude that it was his way or else. I will continue to refuse to comply. If they want to rock my boat, I will rock theirs in return. I don't ask anyone anywhere for one thin red dime, and feel no obligation to answer their questions "for their customers" as the census site says. Thanks for the link.

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), December 06, 2000.

This fellow could have worked for the census when it was being conducted and just kept his ID. Tons of people were hired for the census and I am sure not all of them are honest. I have never heard of a follow up being done. I would definately suspect an alternative motive of this person. We were visited during the census...which is truly amazing as the house had no address, can't be seen from the road and was through a pretty impressive gate! We sat on the front porch kept the kids inside and answered the questions we thought were any of the governments business and nothing else. It was a good thing the guy that came to our house was a very nice older gentleman. My husband was offended and shocked at a lot of the questions and if the guy hadn't been nice he would have been escorted off the premisis! The fellow was a bit surprised when we wouldn't answer the question about what school our kids went to or what grade they were in....we homeschool. I'm glad you brought this to my attention.....if it is legitimate we might be revisited...if it isn't it might be a scam that happens here too. I often leave the kids at the house while I am working on the farm....often out of shouting distance. I'll be more careful to leave them something to be able to get me quick if needed.

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), December 06, 2000.

I'd ruin his day and flatten all of his tires with a roll out with nails in it. You are a lot nicer than I am!

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), December 06, 2000.

JLS---you make me laugh and hit the nail on the head! I am suspicious of EVERYONE. I got the long form and only filled out initials and the address. Never heard from them again. The original census form I got was even hand delivered to us.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), December 06, 2000.

We got the long form, the only thing we told them was that there were two people here, period. That's all they need to know, in my opinion anyway! I got all sorts of phone calls trying to get more info. out of me, I politely, but firmly, informed them that answering the number of people here was all that was required, and if they wanted to fine me, go ahead and do it. To my knowledge, no one has ever been fined for refusing to answer the additional (other than number of people at the residence) questions, so don't let them intimidate you, treat them as you would a trespasser, and tell them to leave immediately, or you can't be held responsible for the damage your 100 pound German Shepard will do to their tires in the next 30 seconds! Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), December 07, 2000.

They sent us the form, and we never filled it out. Noone has come for us. So much for that. It isn't any of their buisness.

I hate the "You have been selected as a finalist...(of a contest that you didn't enter)....to win...( a new Jeep or a Haiwan vacation, or a new entertainment center...you choose)...." THEN they want you to drive somewhere in Indy (an hour or so trip), to listen to some vacation spiel...yada, yada. I tell them "Thanks, but no thanks...." and firmly hang up, sometimes over the caller's protests. Sometimes the callers want info (name, address...but there I stop them, before they ask anything else), so they can "verify my eligibility." Give me a break!!!!

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), December 07, 2000.

Reistance to the nanny goverment. Love that about homesteaders. Wonder how they will make the homesteady lifestyle illegal.

-- charles (clb@watervalley.net), December 07, 2000.

It's already been done via Executive order. Remember the no "hording of food, fuel" from Y2K?

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), December 07, 2000.