Posted on 09/16/2013 7:36:44 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
Home phone. Why we still have one; I don't know. If it rings while we're home - we ignore it and let it go to the machine. I never ever even check the ansering machine, but Mrs. R2 does. And this weekend she told me that the Census Bureau jas been calling and leaving messages. They want a call back.
(Insert suspicious red flags going up here)
Anyway the call back number is 1-888-817-2153 and I have a case number. And no, I haven't returned that call. And yes, I Googled it. It is the Census Bureau and there are plenty of links to discussion groups buzzing about why would the Census Bureau be calling and what do they want now.
Naturally I didn't fill out the formal census in 2010. I was able to dodge the field agent for a time, but I was finally cornered one day and I do remember giving out some basics. Now it appears they want more.
And since I'm Christian, conservative, white and other labels that have put me on the gubmint's terrorist watch list; I don't intend to cooperate any more than I have to.
Ignore them. Discard their questionnaires and ignore their phone calls. They should eventually give up.
I’d ignore them just like you and I ignored them in 2010.
They gave up on me VERY quickly after the Lois Lerner stuff hit the news. I think someone has put the word out to lie low.
Since the Census is one of the few Constitutional things the federal government does, and since the Census affects apportionment of representatives, it is usually a good idea to ensure accuracy of results. Based on that, I would call them and tell them how many people live in your household. That’s about all they need to know.
I didn’t reply to my Census either.
I’m sure its NOT the Census but more likely a political group.
Threaten to sue them for invasion of privacy.
Call your congressman and tell them you are being harassed.
Maybe you’ve won a free cruise.
If you’ve ever done family tree research you’d know why this is a two-edged sword. On the one hand I protect my privacy but on the other I cuss the census takers of the past for not filling out the information or writing so poorly that I couldn’t make out what was the truth.
They already know how many people are in my household. I told them that 3 years ago.
I don’t trust the Census Bureau any more then the IRS. If the IRS has moved beyond income tax collection into an armed agency to enforce Obamacare - then why would I think any info that the Census Bureau has won’t also be used against me?
Yeah. On a Carnival Cruise line.
Being stranded at sea with non functioning toilets - Standard.
I would not call them back.
I suspect they are doing the ACS. . .trying to extract as much personal info as they can (medical conditions in the home, income, savings, commute time, number of vehicles, education level. . .etc).
I had this problem (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2436331/posts) and refused to answer their questions on the phone—NEVER give out info over the phone. I made the mistake of partially filling out the form, number of people, and sending it in. This generated the calls from them.
While there is a provision in the law to “force” people to answer, they do NOT go that route.
Why is the US Census Bureau trying to ge ahold of me? (Vanity)
************
You’ll probably have to call them and they’ll let you know. But remember the census
does a selected number of interviews each year for the American Community Survey.
This is yearly ongoing survey in addition to the 10 year census survey.
http://www.census.gov/acs/www/
They probably want to know if you have pets and if you squeeze their anal glands as near as often as the government squeezes ours. :-)
Answer de phone and say “bueno” and “no comprende ingles”. Might as well get so e benefit fom amnesty, right?
Answer de phone and say “bueno” and “no comprende ingles”. Might as well get some benefit fom amnesty, right?
Here is what I received from a FReeper back when they were calling me:
FWIW, here’s the info from the Census Bureau, http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/CT_%20answers.pdf
5) Why am I getting phone calls from the Census Bureau Staff? In order to collect the required information, the Census Bureau uses mail, telephone calls and personal visits to collect the ACS data. First, the Census Bureau sends a prenotice letter to let households know that they will soon receive a questionnaire. Soon after the questionnaire is mailed, a postcard reminder is mailed. In order to improve response, a replacement questionnaire is mailed to nonrespondents about three weeks after the initial questionnaire was delivered.
If the Census Bureau does not receive a completed questionnaire after the replacement questionnaire is delivered, the case is referred to one of three call centers in Jeffersonville, IN, Hagerstown, MD, or Tucson, AZ.
Also on that page is their justification for insiting you answer all the questions:
3) Do I have to answer the ACS questions? Yes. Response to this survey is required by law (Section 221 of Title 13). Respondents are required to answer all questions on the ACS to the best of their ability. 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, the Census Bureau may contact you by phone or in person to obtain or clarify the missing information.
10) What are the penalties if I do not respond to the survey? Both Title 13 and Title 18, United States Code, provide for monetary penalties for failure to respond. Title 18, U.S.C., Section 3551, et seq., the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, establishes uniform penalties for all federal crimes. Title 13 U.S.C., Section 221, makes it a misdemeanor to refuse or willfully neglect to complete the questionnaire or answer questions posed by census takers and imposes a fine of not more than $100. This fine is changed by the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 from $100 to not more than $5,000. The Census Bureau is not a prosecuting agency. Failure to provide information is not likely to result in a fine. The Census Bureau staff work to achieve cooperation and high response rates by helping the public understand that responding to the ACS is a matter of civic responsibility, and prefers to encourage participation in this manner rather than prosecution.
I had the same problem. It’s probably related to the American Community Survey, which is usually mailed to your house but not addressed specifically to you. They will probably stop calling after a month or so. One of the recorded messages I got was a small child’s voice, which I found strange.
Mmmmm. I think they stopped calling me about the same time. Coincidence?
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