Refusing to fill out the census

Pete.Dakota · 27 Apr 2011 at 17:46

BunnyKillBot said:
Even i can see there is some weight behind the idea that forcing people to fill out a survey is wrong...

No one is forced to fill out the form. However if you don't you're forced to pay £1000! Simple.

If you don't want to be forced to do anything, fill out the damn form!

britboy4321 · 27 Apr 2011 at 18:08

He sounds like an idiot. If I was asking him I'd have just said

'Listen, do fill out the census, or don't, I don't really care TBH I'm just earning money here. I'm putting you down as a refusal. Moan about it if you want. Goodbye.'

toon_mad · 27 Apr 2011 at 19:01

Did the people in the vid know they were recorded (ie mobile phone) or was it secret camera?

Lopéz · 27 Apr 2011 at 19:17

Curiousalien said:
If you live in England and wondered what question 17 was it's "do you speak welsh"

Shame they don't leave it in, as I live in England but I can speak Welsh.

SGCWill · 27 Apr 2011 at 19:22

Trusty said:
You don't look at the mantle piece when your poking the fire!

Unless it's a midget.

I wasn't going to fill in the census, but for an entirely different reason.

They let terrorists sit in my government.

But seriously, up to £1000 fine or 2 minutes. Only a complete tool would refuse to fill it in. Don't these idiots realise that there are better ways to change the system than to do nothing??

ethan · 27 Apr 2011 at 19:31

Wondering about this as I'm sure there must be a number of instances: what if you are too ill to fill in the form or even have somebody do it for you? Are there any exemptions?

toon_mad · 27 Apr 2011 at 19:33

ethan said:
Wondering about this as I'm sure there must be a number of instances: what if you are too ill to fill in the form or even have somebody do it for you? Are there any exemptions?

to add to this, what if you are on holiday or working away from the country?

Tefal · 27 Apr 2011 at 19:36

ethan said:
Wondering about this as I'm sure there must be a number of instances: what if you are too ill to fill in the form or even have somebody do it for you? Are there any exemptions?

You can vote by proxy so you can probably do the census by proxy.

Although possibly the collector may sit down and help you fill it in if you're unable.

semi-pro waster · 27 Apr 2011 at 19:37

ethan said:
Wondering about this as I'm sure there must be a number of instances: what if you are too ill to fill in the form or even have somebody do it for you? Are there any exemptions?

Phone up the ONS and ask them for help, they might not be the correct people but they'll be able to point you in the right direction. However if you're able to post on a forum then it seems unlikely that you'd be unable to complete the census.

I'd suspect if you're too ill to fill out the form at any time during the period for returns that you'd need a carer of some description, they could help the person fill out the form.

ethan · 27 Apr 2011 at 19:45

Phone up the ONS and ask them for help, they might not be the correct people but they'll be able to point you in the right direction. However if you're able to post on a forum then it seems unlikely that you'd be unable to complete the census.

Sorry I didn't mean to suggest this for myself-but I take your point.

I was thinking of people with complaints where your suggestion would not be applicable due to neurological and other such reasons.

Edit: Out of curiosity I'll google this.

Curiousalien · 27 Apr 2011 at 20:11

ethan said:
Sorry I didn't mean to suggest this for myself-but I take your point. I was thinking of people with complaints where your suggestion would not be applicable due to neurological and other such reasons.

Edit: Out of curiosity I'll google this.

You can phone the Census Helpline on 0300 0201 130 or go to census.gov.uk

If you phone you can make an appointment for someone to come and help you fill in the form if you cannot do it for any reason. So far in my area only 2 people have asked for this help and both didn't even need to do the form in the end for various reasons (they were business properties that nobody lived at and the manager was just unsure).

If I knock on the door and find someone who I think may have trouble filling the form in I pass this to my manager who I guess gives this info to a specialist collector who is more trained for helping people with problems.

If you work away or are on holiday then you will come home to loads of little cards telling you to fill it in. A 6 week holiday would be nice but is unusual, even after that if you fill it it when you get back then nobody will mind.

Dirk · 28 Apr 2011 at 15:00

vonhelmet said:
Good grief. What a stupid question.

Sorry, can't be arsed to pull punches today.

What an idiotic response!

Harassment:

..involves pestering an individual, either in person or in writing or electronic formats or on the telephone

To irritate or torment persistently.

Etc.

Vonhelmet · 28 Apr 2011 at 15:10

Dirk said:
What an idiotic response!

Harassment:

..involves pestering an individual, either in person or in writing or electronic formats or on the telephone

To irritate or torment persistently.

Etc.

1 knock on the door each week by an authorised official to remind someone of their obligation to complete a government mandated form is not harrassment, and it is idiotic to suggest that it is.

To irritate or torment persistently? Give over.

Rameses · 10 May 2011 at 14:50

Sorry to bump the thread but we've just had a guy knock on wanting to confirm our details for the Census 2011, a few of them are canvassing the area now but my alarm bells starting going since we've already filled in the form and submitted it, without much fuss dad starts spewing all our info to him I shout down why are you giving our info out on the door step, he said he was from the National Statistics and this is a followup to the questionnaire.

Anyone had this before?

It does say this about Census Quality Survey interviewer, but it also says "You will be notified in advance if your household has been selected to take part."

http://2011.census.gov.uk/en/index.php?content_id=1548

We werent and thanks to dad I can't verify if its genuine. Dad said it was the same logo as on survey & website but still kinda angry at dad for just accepting it without anything other than a guy showing a badge... :confused:

Cosimo · 10 May 2011 at 15:24

AmTechFox said:
We werent and thanks to dad I can't verify if its genuine. Dad said it was the same logo as on survey & website but still kinda angry at dad for just accepting it without anything other than a guy showing a badge...

If you really are concerned then ring one of the numbers on that link you posted.

anything I don't mind · 10 May 2011 at 16:37

Right now i have the census minions and the TV license "enforcement division" harassing me to no end. They knock on my door and put letter through my mailbox on a weekly basis. I refuse to comply with their totalitarian demands. For security reasons I will not enter in to a contract with either the tv license organisation or the census organisation. I read the legislation and there is nothing in the legislation that states that I have to engage in a contract with them. No one, not even the state has the authority to force someone in to a contract.

The data is collected and they do not guarantee the security of that information, people have suggested completing the form and filling out incorrect information. By doing that you are more liable than not competing the form. The information is not released for 100 years, so what is the point. I have no interest in census because for one I do not support the state and for two, i will never see the statistics anyway.

What i do is not even answer the door, they can't take someone to court if they do not have your name. I am going to move house soon as well. Get away from this totalitarian harassment. Don't get me started on the tv license.

Burnsy2023 · 10 May 2011 at 16:41

groen said:
Right now i have the census minions and the TV license "enforcement division" harassing me to no end. They knock on my door and put letter through my mailbox on a weekly basis. I refuse to comply with their totalitarian demands. For security reasons I will not enter in to a contract with either the tv license organisation or the census organisation. I read the legislation and there is nothing in the legislation that states that I have to engage in a contract with them. No one, not even the state has the authority to force someone in to a contract.

What contracts are you talking about?

anything I don't mind · 10 May 2011 at 16:44

The census contract and the tv license contract. Well it is more a legal contract.

The tv license, even if you don't have a tv, you have to make a "claim of declaration"

definition: dec·la·ra·tion, A plaintiff's statement of claims in proceedings

They trick you in to signing a legal contract.

Edrof · 10 May 2011 at 16:46

groen said:
Right now i have the census minions and the TV license "enforcement division" harassing me to no end. They knock on my door and put letter through my mailbox on a weekly basis. I refuse to comply with their totalitarian demands. For security reasons I will not enter in to a contract with either the tv license organisation or the census organisation. I read the legislation and there is nothing in the legislation that states that I have to engage in a contract with them. No one, not even the state has the authority to force someone in to a contract.

The data is collected and they do not guarantee the security of that information, people have suggested completing the form and filling out incorrect information. By doing that you are more liable than not competing the form. The information is not released for 100 years, so what is the point. I have no interest in census because for one I do not support the state and for two, i will never see the statistics anyway.

What i do is not even answer the door, they can't take someone to court if they do not have your name. I am going to move house soon as well. Get away from this totalitarian harassment. Don't get me started on the tv license.

You should line your walls with tin foil.

wannabedamned · 10 May 2011 at 16:46

Apparently my friend has had a £700 fine through for not filling out the census.

I dont get how thats allowed. How on earth can they enforce giving out fines for not wanting to give personal information = \