Advice needed: Being harassed by census worker

07/21/2005 | Me

[redbaiter]

Two months ago a field agent from the US Census Bureau left a business card under my door, with a note requesting an interview for a survey the Bureau does on unemployment and income. The note explained the purpose of the survey and outlined the sorts of questions that would be asked (mostly income and work-related stuff). I called him back at the number provided, told him that my income was none of his business and requested that he not contact me any more.

This was not effective, and he continued to try to contact me. So I called him back again and ordered him to cease and desist. This too was ineffective, and he continues to try and contact me even now, two months later. (In the summer I am rarely home before 9PM so he has never succeeded.)

I asked around, and it turns out he has a pattern of similar behavior.

What can I do to make this guy cease and desist?

[isthisnickcool]

Tell him you run Microsoft and are worth several billion dollars.

[Moral Hazard]

"What can I do to make this guy cease and desist?"

Just answer his questions with obvious lies.

[coconutt2000]

Call the Census Bureau. Find out if the guy is legit, and tell them to stop him, or else.

[dmz]

Take it a notch higher in the chain of command.

[alisasny]

< i wonder if he gets paid to constantly harass in this manner since he cant find people to talk with him???

If he is one an hourly salary can he bill for even failed wasted time?

[Gator101]

Answer all his questions with "I am Elmer J. Fudd, I own a mansion and a yacht"

[gdc61]

perhaps if several thousand FReepers called his office..... what was that number?

[SW6906]

Post the following sign on your front door:

NO SOLICITORS!!
TRESSPASSERS WILL BE SHOT
SURVIVORS WILL BE SHOT AGAIN

[ConservativeMan55]

LOL

[Ignatius J Reilly]

umm, why not just answer his questions. The information you give is not stored with your name nor shared with the IRS. The purpose of gathering such info is for legitimate use. I am one that rarely gives out any personal info unless necessary but to a census worker I would not have a problem.

[KarlInOhio]

Try some tricks from Christopher Walken's census sketch.

Census-Taker: No, it's not that ridiculous. Mr. Leonard, do you own or rent this apartment?

Mr. Leonard: Sure. You have to ask one of the other 79 people.

Census-Taker: You mean your wife?

Mr. Leonard: Yeah.

Census-Taker: Well, can I talk to her, then?

Mr. Leonard: She won't answer you. She's a bobcat.

Census-Taker: You got a bobcat in there?

[eastforker]

Are you sure he works for the census buro? Fed Investigators have been known to use that disguise to get info on people to later use against them. Be careful.

[lilylangtree]

That's my suggestion too.

[GingisK]

The purpose of gathering such info is for legitimate use.

Not according to the Constitutional limitations prescribed for the census.

[Mr. Jazzy]

Ever seen the movie "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"

Our three adventurers approach the Hogwallop estate and are greeted in the drive by young Hogwallop, who fires a rifle at them.


Young Hogwallop: Popa says I's supposed to shoot bankers and anyone with papers.

Delmar: Well, we ain't got no papers.

Young Hogwallop: Yesterday I nicked a census man!

Delmar: Now there's a good boy.


Scene makes me laugh every time.

[GreenOgre]

Take out an order of protection against them. Their behavior is very questionable.

[Gator101]

"A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti ffft ffft fftt"

[KarlInOhio]

The purpose of gathering such info is for legitimate use.

The legitimate Constitutional purpose of the census is to apportion representatives. Therefore they need a count of people every ten years. Asking questions about "mostly income and work-related stuff" between the ten year count isn't a legitimate use.

[redbaiter]

Ooooooooooo I like that one.