I actually worked for the Census in 1970. They insisted that the ACS did not receive it and wanted the information again. It is widely known that in a five-year span the Bureau lost at least 672 laptops. We are all empowered, so we need to get together to sue! Do as you see fit. This government is OUT OF CONTROL! Here are the facts I discovered: Some of the questions asked in this questionnaire are so intrusive that I would not even give this information to my best friends or relatives. and they are the ones who should be paying extra taxes for that. Then you want to threaten with fines? You also will be asked these questions about everyone in your household 15 years and older. Still, some citizens do not answer it. Please post legal options for readers when census takers are sharing personal information with neighbors! A lock ( We've tossed two surveys in the recycle bin. The American Community Survey is an Orwellian overreach of federal powers that should be resisted by Americans. As long as there are enough people who didn't fill out the census? what the hell??? What? She noticed that I was very irritated and told me that she just needs the number of people who live here and ages. It's a land of the free OK but I ask everyday "for who??" I just sent the supervisor who knocked on my door packing! I live in upstate New York and was just threatened that the census taker would be back with the police and his supervisor because I refused to fill out the form. The census worker also tried to "bait" me into giving false answers by saying "just answer the question anyway you like even if it's not true." I answered nothing else and therefore did not lie on a government form. There are different questions and answer options included in modern surveys. If you had a wife who had been sexually assaulted, would you want the time you left for and came home from work circulated? I had already been a victim of identity theft. Apparently there are quite a few people who expect miracles out of thin air. Follow-up can occur in-person, via mail, or by telephone. I am being harassed and threatened. The Census Act of 1976 specifically prohibits the use of statistical sampling in the creation of congressional districts. I went through this myself and I read a Web forum that spanned several years with posters who had received the form, and what they had experienced. If they refuse, call 911 and report a hostile trespasser. The surveyor didn't respond to that one when we had a "terse" discussion with them today. They say they are from the U.S. Dept of Commerce. The old surveys don't ask for much more than that (other than birthplace). I replied you already have our ages and that we are members of the human race. On the first occasion, the guy produced a badge and said he would like to come in and talk to me. Best policy is to avoid answering the door to strangers but it's difficult to do if you are outside a lot. Like many, I received the original short census form, completed it and mailed it back immediately. We need to ban together and not cave in on this. My husband said he is going to start asking them the personal questions and leave it at that. My son answered the door, the guy announced who he was with. From (original) Poster 188: Knock on wood, the phone calls seem to have stopped. That's why every selfish person here complains that the government doesn't use resources in the right place; the government waits too long to address problems; the government wastes money. For the first time in the 25-year history of AmCham China's business sentiment survey, a majority of responding companies said China is no longer seen as a "top three investment priority". It has been done since 1790, and is mandated by the Constitution. I received two surveys. The third section of U.S. Code referenced is " 13 U.S. Code 221 - Refusal or neglect to answer questions; false answers ." Answer. How can I verify that a mailing is legitimate and from the US Census Bureau? You have to pay $2 for the online opt-out and $3 if you mail in the form. You also will be asked a few additional questions about your age, race, occupation, hours of work, and educational attainment, among other things. Our world leaders are puppets, and the puppet master is greed. I am an American! Thus, they cannot use the census as the pretext for the ACS. This is not for every citizen, so we will not participate. For information on a specific survey, please visit the surveys webpage. anon77096: Why would anybody want federal funding for anything? I'm so glad I'm not alone. This ACS thing is quite detailed. Some of you who refuse to return your forms could possibly look at it from a different angle. I guess the fear that they may be prosecuted for trespassing on private property wasn't worth the questionnaire. We do not publish the cell phone numbers of our field representatives on our staff search website. A successful community survey is one that gives you high-quality, actionable insights. If the stories in this thread are true, those census workers are scum. Answer (1 of 5): Idk what the punishment is but I started filling it out. There are free opt-outs for caregivers and those with a deceased relative. I said that I still respectfully declined the survey. From the American Community Survey and your tax dollars at work. I then yelled at him to "beat it" - (since he could see me and it was obvious that I knew he was there.). Non parlo inglese!" If they are unable to reach you, they may leave a message with a case ID associated with your survey. Shame it's only once every ten years. Condos hire people inside the condo as census people. How will my information be protected? but who gets the census??? The American Community Survey is sent to 1 in 38 homes in the U.S. each year. It is a violation of Federal law and they can fine you up to $5000 for refusing to answer questions. Hard to believe they did not receive it or they lost it. I am appalled at this whole thing and believe me when that survey taker arrives at my door again, she is going to get an ear full. A truly honest, upright government does not hire goons and bullies to do any work for them. I feel empowered. makes you wonder!!!???? Feel free to not answer any questions you feel are overly intrusive. To anon89810: I am all for taking action against them. We randomly sample addresses in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. That didn't stop the harassment, visits leaving notes while I was at work, or conversations asking my neighbors questions about me like I was some criminal or something. and inviting me to contact them if I had any concerns. Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia allow parents to opt-out on behalf of their children. Maybe you'll get a new hospital! In addition to conducting the decennial census count, the Census Bureau oversees surveys that collect information from households, businesses, schools, hospitals, and more. (The car had to pass my house to get to the neighbors.) You have a file and they are trying to use changes in your life situation to justify government programs. we have every right to keep our privacy!!!! its no joke. And if I were paranoid, I'd be accusing the census takers of taking my new baby's ss card that has still not arrived in my hands in four months! I just received the ACS survey and will not be sending it in. Thus, if they want a specific task force to track illegals and tax invading americans, then so be it. And nowhere in the Library of Congress has any bill ever given them the right to fine you. (We filled out and mailed our census form as soon as we received it.) I am glad to know there are plenty out there who are refusing to let our rights be trampled on!! Somewhere in the process we got some messages on the answering machine asking us to call their 800 number and refer to our "case number." *Respondents may Reply "Stop" to opt out of receiving text messages. He said, "I'll see what I can do." I told him that was correct. Millions of dollars wasted! I hung up. There is absolutely no possibility they can guarantee this information will not be disseminated to others or exposed to malevolent wrongdoers. And how do they fine/prosecute a person if "answers" cannot be used in court or obtained by law enforcement? The last person who called our home sounded like he was contracted through India? Your participation is critical, and your response to the 2020 Census cannot replace your answers to these surveys. Mykel. Under Washington's scheme, new electric vehicle tax credits apply to those with final assembly . Poster 235 is on to something: maybe my neighborhood can get a new school, a new hospital, and a new fire station. Wound up yelling at anyone who would speak to me and finally the harassment stopped. Test the survey internally or on a focus group. Have no fear. First I didn't send the form back "as soon as possible". I have contacted The American Center For Law and Justice. I really like what anon18185 did, about looking up the census person and finding out information about them and not have thrown away the census questionnaire. If you have questions regarding the Census Bureau, data products, or general information call the Census Bureau Customer Service Center at 1-800-923-8282. Tell me, if you were in charge of managing a company and you asked your staff for information so you could make an important decision and they could not answer any questions, how long do you think it would be before a major problem arose? You are only required to do that once every ten years (in years that end in zero). The state police will show up and *escort* them off your property. They do go to your neighbors and landlord if you are a renter, and they do try to threaten and intimidate you by saying that if you don't answer then someone will return and will have the police with them, so yeah, keep on believing that it's all just a few harmless questions. Be transparent about what you are asking of them, what you will do with their . The calls/personal visits stopped. The U.S. Census has nothing to do with Obama nor most of the accusations you are flippantly throwing up online. I told this supervisor that no one came by my home. But not allthat other information. The US government already has all the information they need on people who file their annual income tax. I was truthful in all 10 short form answers. I did not send it back, I received another and still did not fill it out. Never give any phone numbers (tell them you don't have a phone and your employer forbids giving out the company cellular phone number). I have contacted all of my federal and state Representatives and it is time they passed a census privacy act. My question is: "Doesn't our government have enough information on us from our mandatory tax returns?" Oh wait -- the U.S. postal would never misdirect mail. First of all, get a clue! The Google Analytics opt-out add-on is designed to be compatible with Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Microsoft Edge. And finally, to the person who looked up the Census rep's name then mentioned her husband had called and wanted her to stop at the store so she looked at him in shock? she said go ahead i'll wait. all this while he was getting ready for work. I like the idea of video taping them and guess I will charge up the old video camera. I get hourly calls during the week. Although I suspect it's really only one or two of you. Then why am I being asked what my race is? How much do I make per year? "is your name blah blah blah?" I too am grateful for this site. Information from the survey generates data that help determine how more than $675 billion in federal and state funds are dis Continue Reading 3 I am a 64 year old woman, living alone. ACS was conducted vigorously and continuously during the presidency of George W. Bush. I am standing firm this time. Well, as the creators of the slide at Fort Carson explained, neither are . ACS is relatively new, it has merely replaced the "long form," as it was known, of the decennial census, which has been around for a very long time, and asked similar questions. The Census Bureau will call, and then after the calls then they visit your home. I am grateful for this siteI just got the survey in the mail and felt very intimidated into having to complete it.or else. The calls started today. So many people are in a snit just because the word "enumerator" makes them mad. Where does the boundary lie with these obsessive idiots? Only 8% do not want to work from home at any frequency. Don't be afraid. But VERIFY viewer Brenda said she recently received a letter claiming to be from the Census Bureau for something called the "American Community . I filled out the form only giving the required information by law and that is how many people live here. Want to save up to 30% on your monthly bills? The calls stopped and no one ever visited. So, the government says that it needs to, you know, know what time you leave so they can manage traffic. What are you all so worried about? They are the ones making the money tax free - not me. I answered only the necessary information on the first census, then was mailed the ever intrusive ACS. With Halloween right around the corner, how about scare the crap out of them. I refused to answer these as these are not required. Also, someone please answer this question: How can the census determine how many illegals are in the US, when they don't pay taxes, use our social security numbers, etc.? The worker harassed him and told him he had to answer the question or he would be in trouble with the police. If you don't care about america and freedom then you stand by and say nothing when you see tyranny, then congrats. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses. Why does the Census Bureau conduct all these surveys? I tried to assure her that this indeed was not a prank but she was too busy being rude and just kept talking, finally telling me to call my senator, which I did. That's four times today and it's just past noon on Saturday. Because the rich have been given free passes by laws created by and for the rich, we must beware these so called laws they create. Isn't this trespassing? My sister and I are fuming over these forms. The letter accompanying the census form indicates it's used to decide how many representatives each state has in congress, and how much money my 'neighborhood' receives from the government. Someone said they can find all our info on the internet anyway. While there is no specific wording in the Bill of Rights regarding the rights of privacy. Just say, "I respectfully decline." I have no problem with telling folks how many people, even our ages and nationalities. The U.S. Census Bureau randomly selected your household or business through a process of scientific sampling. I refused to tell them financial info or how much I pay on a power bill. mandatory. Glad I found this thread! "Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who who have the courage to defend it." Good for Michele Bachmann for saying she wasn't filling this out. I googled the name and phone number, found out their spouses name where they lived, etc. When I saw the personal and invasive nature of recent Census, I was irate. I have now been visited six times already. Average home prices in Australia, which have nearly doubled since the 2008 financial crisis, have dropped about 9% since April 2022. Then we find out she is our next-door neighbor! Apparently the obnoxious butt head pounding repeatedly on my door at 10:00 AM (I work at night) was a census worker. Report. Would you believe they just called again? The name of a Census Bureau survey is provided in one or more of the following ways: Your household or business may be selected to participate in a survey. You will not be fined. Thanks, people, for your informative and oftentimes humorous posts here. I just don't answer the door. They aren't the enemy, so I don't act hostile towards them, but it still unnerves me how they got my cell phone number. how the hell does she know me and what i look like, she's never been to our door yet. I responded to the ACS. We then engaged in a bit of "palaver" in which she said that they can require us to answer any question they want because "it's in the Constitution". 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