US Census Bureau survey..advice needed!!!

[msp]

Today I got a survey from the US Census Bureau... we answered our census form earlier this year... now they've sent this 26 page survey asking really personal questions about income, real estate taxes, annual insurance payments on our property, our mortgage payment, our health insurance, medical conditions, the location of our jobs...complete address, whether or not we missed any work last week!,etc. Holy Crap, really??? did anyone else get this? Are we required to give out this kind of very personal information???

[msp]

It even asks what time we left for work!!!! OMG, do they want to know what color underwear I was wearing too???

[msp]

how many times have you been married? do you have difficulty concentrating, making decisions, remembering? Do you have difficulty bathing? Are you kidding me??

[goomba]

whats the return address on the form. full name of the agency on the return address also.

was this form hand deliverd?

I can get some answers for you.

[rstewart]

I got a similar form last year. The American Community Survey or some such nonsense. I refused to answer the questions. they called and threatened but I told her to go pound sand I wasnt telling her how much my electric bill was last month.

[Justin Thyme]

I would just ignore it. Tell them if they want that kind of information from you you need to see a subpoena.

[rstewart]

I told them to contact Volunteer Electric Cooperative, a government regulated utility, if they wanted that information. She said they didn't even know who I was that the "package" was mailed to an address. Of course the next logical question from me was "then how in the hell did you get MY phone number if you don't know who I am?" No answer to this question. At that point I told her that I was done being interrogated. It was at this point she tried to intimidate me by saying that someone would be coming out to my house. Told her good luck with that and hung up on her. Haven't heard from them since.

[chann87]

Toss it in the trash! You don't have to legally tell them anything!

[msp]

Thanks everyone! I'm going to throw it in the trash. And when they call and come over to harrass me, I will just have to ignore them! In the meantime, when you start wondering where your tax dollars are going.... well, now you know!!

[TNBear]

In words of one syllable: it is a scam, no tax $ spent!

[msp]

actually it is indeed from the US Census Bureau (we've checked it out) and the tax dollars are wasted on this and many, many other things.

[el Gusano]

Legally, all you have to answer is how many people live in the household.

[rstewart]

I don't think it is a scam.

www.census.gov/acs/www/

[ScarlettP]

Crap! "How much money do you make? When do you leave for work?" Ok - That just sounds like "Do you make enough money for it to be worth breaking into your home to steal it all? When is a good time for me to clean you out?"

[msp]

rstewart, thank you, that is exactly what we got, it's not a scam and it's a HUGE waste of tax dollars!! Not to mention the fact that it is extremely personal info. And yes Scarlett, that is how I felt too!! And when you get to the health related questions... Holy Crap! Do I have trouble remembering? Do I have trouble bathing or dressing? I think when they start coming to the house to harrass me I will answer my door naked and say "oops, I have trouble remembering to get dressed"

[davrik]

From U.S. Census bureau:
American Community Survey: Must I respond?

Question
Do I have to respond to the American Community Survey / Puerto Rico Community Survey?


Answer
Yes. Respondents are required to answer all questions on the American Community Survey (ACS) to the best of their ability. Response to this and other Census surveys is required by law (Section 221 of Title 13, Chapter 7, United States Code). This chapter also contains information regarding offenses and possible penalties. According to Section 221, persons who do not respond shall be fined not more than $100. Title 18 U.S.C. Section 3571 and Section 3559, in effect amends Title 13 U.S.C. Section 221 by changing the fine for anyone over 18 years old who refuses or willfully neglects to complete the questionnaire or answer questions posed by census takers from a fine of "not more than $100" to "not more than $5,000." More information.

Your answers are very important because they represent the answers of many other similar households in your community. The data that you and others provide in response to this survey are required to manage or evaluate federal and state government programs. If you submit an incomplete form or provide data that are unclear, we may contact you by phone or in person to obtain or clarify the missing information.

The ACS is part of the Decennial Census Program. It is a survey that is sent to a small percentage of our population on a rotating basis. These data previously were collected only in census years in conjunction with the decennial census. Since the ACS is conducted every year, rather than once every ten years, it will provide more current data throughout the decade. The Census Bureau may use the information it collects only for statistical purposes. Title 13 requires the Census Bureau to keep all information about you, and all other respondents, strictly confidential. Any Census Bureau employee who violates these provisions is subject to a fine up to $250,000, a prison sentence up to five years, or both.

I suppose in theory one must respond.

[duke]

Was the form sent via certified mail with return receipt? Hand delivered by a process server?
No? What proof is there that you received the questionnaire?

Personal visit? There is no law that requires you to open the door for anyone. Opening the door has been held by many courts to be a voluntary act.

[Scarlet&Gray]

Break out the tin foil hats while your at it..

[el Gusano]

The US Constitution trumps some bureaucrat. The census is to simply count people. You HAVE to answer that question. The rest is up to you.

[Justin Thyme]

Oct 3, 2010 9:00:01 GMT -5 davrik said:

From U.S. Census bureau:
American Community Survey: Must I respond?

Question
Do I have to respond to the American Community Survey / Puerto Rico Community Survey?


Answer
Yes. Respondents are required to answer all questions on the American Community Survey (ACS) to the best of their ability. Response to this and other Census surveys is required by law (Section 221 of Title 13, Chapter 7, United States Code). This chapter also contains information regarding offenses and possible penalties. According to Section 221, persons who do not respond shall be fined not more than $100. Title 18 U.S.C. Section 3571 and Section 3559, in effect amends Title 13 U.S.C. Section 221 by changing the fine for anyone over 18 years old who refuses or willfully neglects to complete the questionnaire or answer questions posed by census takers from a fine of "not more than $100" to "not more than $5,000." More information.

Ya know, that's kind of like asking a scam artist if you really do have to give them your money. Of course the Census Bureau is going to claim you have to answer those questions but that doesn't mean that you have to answer them. Ask a lawyer if you want a valid opinion.

[el Gusano]

a) I can't believe you're surprised and
b) I can't believe you're not supporting it because "it's the law"

[Scarlet&Gray]

It's a law we have to live with..Drive 55