Perhaps the lawyers on this board can chime in, but I don't think you have to talk to anyone from the government unless you want to. Otherwise they need some form of subpoena.

I had someone show up during the last Census, and I just told them I wasn't going to talk to them. They left, and they never came back.

Haven't had anyone show up, but after the last census I received a letter from the census bureau stating we were selected to answer additional questions. They were to be answered through the census bureau's website. Really didn't pay any attention and threw it away. Received another letter from them that I was required by federal law to complete the additional survey.

Username checks out.

centexaggie2010 said:

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Don't agree under any circumstances. My wife fell for it because the lady insinuated that she was required to by law (she wasn't).

It ended up being a years long ordeal where they would just show up at our house randomly and ask the same line of questions over 30 minutes. We had to deal with it every 3 months or so for a couple of years.

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What is their incentive?

They could buy most of the data from all the data mining companies out there most likely but they want their surveys done a specific way for statistical purposes and requirements.

Couldn't help it. I had to post this.

We have had 2 people from church had someone from the VA contact them with the same thing, they needed to open a bank account so the VA can deposit benefits for their deceased spouse. They had all of their info but nothing made sense, the person from the VA was very persistent about getting this done ASAP.

Sounds like there are some people knowing they will be out of a job very shortly and trying to benefit before they leave.

The Trump administration attempted to get a citizenship question added to the 2020 census.

Some federal judge ruled it was not permitted because it was arbitrary, not enough research was done in order to get the question added.

There's a lot of useless, unnecessary questions on the census long form... they have nothing to do w/ the Constitutionally required count of people living in the U.S. for apportionment of House districts... so why not a question about whether someone(s) is a U.S. citizen?

Hopefully the incoming Trump admin. will get the citizenship question added for the 2030 census.

It is the community survey https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about.html

Here is sample, they said I could take over the phone or in person. I don't recall but might have said it would take an hour or so

https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/methodology/questionnaires/2024/quest24.pdf

I had them harass me for months, in person numerous times, several FedEx and finally a call to my cell phone from a supervisor. I firmly told them no at every step.

The primary worker lived in a ratty mobile home with her methed up son. I'm doubt my financial and personal data would be secure

I looked at a sample survey online and it is extensive, long and requires updates over a period of years. How long is your commute, how much do you spend on xxx, how many bathrooms etc.

They will threaten fines etc, ignore them. We decided the fine would be worth keeping our personal information personal. Have not heard anything further in 3 years.

FbgTxAg said:

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Texasclipper said:

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On a Sunday afternoon a couple of weeks ago, a man showed up claiming to be a census worker for the government. He said my address was selected to be a part of a survey for needed government economic info and that he wanted to interview me. He also mentioned that I supposedly was sent a letter informing me and asking if i received it. I politely told him we would not be participating and he basically told me they would try again later. Yesterday i received a Fed Ex letter from the Census saying the guy would be back, so i guess i will again have to tell him we will not be participating.

Anyone else experience this? Its annoying that they won't take "no" for an answer. And mailing correspondence Fed-Ex is sure an expensive way of doing things.

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When the government won't even use the U.S. Postal Service, it's time to shut it down.

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Yes, our local news informed us y day not to use USPS to send any financial instruments through the US mail. They said the chances of making it to the destination is not good, during the holidays. It looks like Elon's got another agency to gut and build back better if it's feasible.

Wildmen06 said:

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Isnt the census every 10 years....so the next one would be in 2030, sounds fake to me

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As someone posted, it's the American Community Survey which happens every year. Selects people at random and then hounds them. Most likely legit (or should I say an actual census worker), but I would still not answer their questions.

They don't understand no, they give up after 6 months. Don't answer the door for strangers. One time the census woman staked out my house, I drove in and closed the garage. She knocked at the door and left another business card.

Regarding not using the USPS, my father used to do consulting for the FBI and everything was delivered by Fed-Ex and that was over 15 years ago. That made me realize that anything that was really important shouldn't go in the regular mail.

TxSquarebody said:

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Username checks out.

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Classic rock fail, bro.

Leonard Skinner was the teacher from Jacksonville, Florida from whom Lynyrd Skynyrd borrowed their name. Since I'm a teacher in Jax, I figured it would be an appropriate tip of the hat.

They come to my door... with their persistence... I'll tell them to **** off.

I tell my wife, "People can say they're going to sue you... you gotta do this or that... or some other "must". Until I'm served with a notice to appear... **** off".

It's great being an old.

MouthBQ98 said:

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They could buy most of the data from all the data mining companies out there most likely but they want their surveys done a specific way for statistical purposes and requirements.

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Mine the data and let AI generate conclusions from it. How many billions did we just save?

Decades ago, my mother had a short-term job as a census taker. This was just the general ten year census, and she went around knocking on doors to get basic household information. None of the long form stuff. Boy did she have some stories.

She was assigned mostly suburban areas, never anywhere dangerous. She did get different responses from different neighborhoods. In some less well-to-do neighborhoods, people were generally polite and were willing to answer her questions. As she went into better neighborhoods, she got more and more doors slammed in her face.

One person I remember her talking about, I think one from a less well-to-do area. The woman would answer her door and was extremely polite, but she refused to provide ANY information. After an address had a certain number of contacts with no response, it would get escalated to a supervisor.

The supervisor went to the house, and it was the same story. The lady was not angry or rude, but simply did not wish to participate in the census. She was highly complementary of my mother and recommended her for another census job in ten years, but she was not answering questions.

TL;DR - my mom was a fed.

Trajan88 said:

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The Trump administration attempted to get a citizenship question added to the 2020 census.

Some federal judge ruled it was not permitted because it was arbitrary, not enough research was done in order to get the question added.

There's a lot of useless, unnecessary questions on the census long form... they have nothing to do w/ the Constitutionally required count of people living in the U.S. for apportionment of House districts... so why not a question about whether someone(s) is a U.S. citizen?

Hopefully the incoming Trump admin. will get the citizenship question added for the 2030 census.

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If the question was added and you were illegal, would you answer it truthfully?

Definitely a candidate for DOGE

Answering "no" to "Are you a US citizen?" is not the same as saying you are here illegally.

Make a deal with them. You'll take the survey if they'll let you share the gospel with them. They probably won't bother you again, but if they do, then that's great!

Wildmen06 said:

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Isnt the census every 10 years....so the next one would be in 2030, sounds fake to me

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We get solicited about 6 times a year now for various economic censuses corporately. When I started, that number was probably 10 - 14 times per year. Our previous CFO was a dyed in the wool leftist and would respond every single time she was asked. It's taken 4 years of turning them down just to get rid of about half.

I got stuck in this census interview loop around 2011. The lady kept calling and would ask questions like "how many jobs do you hold in the household?" It went way beyond how many people live here so we can forecast school or hospital capacity, etc.

I won't participate again.

While required by law has anyone ever been prosecuted for not participating in the census? Sort of like going 57 in a 55. Yeah, it's speeding but no one is getting a ticket. Well, so long as it's not Dime Box.

AggieT said:

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Anybody that knocks on my door unsolicited meets this guy. He's a big baby that is genuinely excited to meet new people, but it usually stops the sales pitch/ donation request/ etc before it begins. And it makes me so happy.

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Our dog is around 9 lbs. When the doorbell rings, she goes ballistic. Sitting in my office at the front, I see people quickly back away from the door just from her barking.