March 8, 2010, - 11:13 am

Harassed by the U.S. Census: A Friend Tells Her Frightening Story; Plus Important Video

By Debbie Schlussel

A good friend of mine had the misfortune of experiencing an important–and scary–preview of what might face you, this year, as Census workers try to pry information from you beyond what is required by the U.S. Constitution.

Last summer, my friend was selected for the “pilot program” for the U.S. Census and tells me the frightening story of how U.S. Census workers repeatedly harassed her because she refused to fill out the ten-page questionnaire (which asked detailed, intrusive questions about her insurance, her kids’ schooling, how it was paid for and how they were transported there, etc.).  Because she refused to fill out the form,  a census worker visited her home over ten times, trying to threaten her into filling out the form.  The census worker even put a copy of “the law” in her mailbox, with something about being prosecuted highlighted.  The census worker told my friend that her participation was necessary to determine government social services, to which my friend replied that she doesn’t depend on the government and that they should pry into the lives of those who take welfare checks.

census2010

My friend, a teacher, wondered how a tiny requirement in the U.S. Constitution, requiring a count of American residents, resulted in Big Brother government suddenly demanding detailed personal information about her family.  My friend repeatedly told the census worker, “We have four people in our household.    That’s all I’m required to tell you, and that’s all you need to know.”  Unfortunately, shortly after that, my friend and her husband were audited by the IRS over an alleged discrepancy of $150.  Here’s more from my friend:

I was sent the census “pilot” form, this summer,  It was very long and intrusive.  It asked personal questions about where and how my kids got to school.  When I refused to fill it out, I was relentlessly harassed by a census worker.  Her name was Carol Emory and she threatened me with prosecution after she attempted to tell me what the Constitution said.  I told her that I was a U.S. History teacher and knew exactly what it said. I also told her that I was a member of the NRA and not to come back to my house!

More people need to know that their rights are being violated.

In case you don’t know, here’s all the U.S. Constitution says about the Census, in Article I, Section 2:

The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.

That’s it. That’s all it says, and that’s in a section about how Representatives to Congress are apportioned. There is nothing there about how many toilets you have or how your kids get to school. It’s no-one’s business . . . especially not the government’s.




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106 Responses

Clinton used the IRS as his personal Geztapo when he was in charge. I see that that practice has become a staple of the Dems. Not surprized. The Left needs thugs or it can’t get anything done.
I feel sorry for your friend. Hope she gets a tax lawyer.
I wonder whether the pilot program was to get information from the citizens or to see how the census workers do their job? Afterall, it was a pilot program, not a pilot questionair. “Get those black-jacks ready and get that information!” They’ll be water-boarding us soon. “How many incandescent light bulbs are you hoarding?! Tell us or we’ll drown your cat!”

Bob on March 8, 2010 at 11:25 am

In the socialist “paradise” (aka Canada) you’d face jail time for refusing to file a census report…and, the “long form” is much longer than 10 pages.

J.S. on March 8, 2010 at 11:35 am

Wow. This… and the photo of a woman in a burka waving the American flag on AOL (to show how much they love America and not Al Queda of course) have made this an interesting Monday and not in a good way. Thanks for letting us know about this potential intrusion we all cuold face. I am so sorry for your friend and her family!

OneScaredMomma on March 8, 2010 at 11:37 am

Scary.

Tempus Fugit on March 8, 2010 at 11:58 am

If they come to your door, do the following(thought you would like this Debbie):

how to complete a census
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XtuPvwBa2U

Duane on March 8, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Ten years ago, I worked the Ceunsus, and had a great time, made a bit of extra money, saw some beautiful country.
This year, under this government, I want nothing to do with the census. I have to borrow my brother in law’s bumpersticker which he used during the Bush years:
“I love my country but fear my government”.
I had just a few people back then who refused to answer questions. My supervisors dealt with them; none of this ‘going back ten times and threatening citizens’. If that had been demanded of me, I would have refused and quit on the spot.

Douglas Q on March 8, 2010 at 12:57 pm

Hmmm
John W. Stevenson

John W. Stevenson on March 8, 2010 at 1:37 pm

Yes, and debt collection agencies will call you constantly when somebody uses your address in an identity theft. I finally said “if you don’t believe I’m not the person you seek, send the police to my door and arrest me, otherwise stop calling”.

Truth on March 8, 2010 at 1:57 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XtuPvwBa2U

Duane on March 8, 2010 at 12:00 pm

—————————————-

How I WISH I could act like that. ROFL!

Shy Guy on March 8, 2010 at 2:00 pm

A guy who used to go to my family’s church, and who makes it his business to send out to all his friends who will listen, many “heads up” e-mails, sent me, last week, a link to that first video you’ve got up there, Debbie.
I have, for some time now, agitated in my mind and heart over the impending trouble…..and was so glad when A.C.O.R.N. lost the go-ahead to be the door-to-door people…..
Well, last night, as I was falling asleep, I found myself going over the impending visit again, in my mind…..and finally settled on an answer of , “One. That’s how many people live in this house.” And I drifted off to sleep, in peace. : )
And, lo and behold, in this morning’s land mail, came the Census Bureau’s warning that within a week I would be receiving, in the land mail, the census form.
Amazing!
I am sad for your friend that the gov’t people came “at” her from another direction, the I.R. S. I hope mightily that she and her family are okay, in this afterwards time…..

Ma Sands on March 8, 2010 at 2:15 pm

Open your eyes people, the census is the tip of the iceberg! Be aware of your rights, only reply to the number of people residing in the residence. Otherwise,in the very near future you will witness how the census will be used against you.

The Big Cow on March 8, 2010 at 2:28 pm

    hehe I do like how you put that! but the Census been around since the 1700’s 😛 I’m more worried about new ID that will be coming out that may have our DNA in them. I dont think im up for that much info on record…

    Heather on April 29, 2010 at 10:20 pm

I had the same thing happen to me quite a few years ago in Detroit.

Hermster on March 8, 2010 at 2:38 pm

I feel bad for your friend Debbie. Not only does your friend have to deal with the IRS, but because of the NRA membership, she is now a right wing extremist. She now has to be on the look out for the DHS – JaNo might put them on BHO’s terrorist watch list.

Jarhead on March 8, 2010 at 3:07 pm

That’s exactly how it has played out with me and the U.S. Census Bureau worker that left threatening information on my door stating I may be fined for not answering their questions. Mind you this was not to demand answers to the census. Instead it is to demand answers to the American Community Survey that is being operated by and that repeatedly refers to the U.S. Census Bureau by name while lacking any constitutional authority to do so. This appears to be a deliberate attempt on the part of the Census Bureau to mislead people into thinking they are answering the census when they are doing in fact nothing of the sort. Why do these bureaucratic creeps think they have any right to know my income, insurance status, ethic origins, or appliance, automobile and toilet ownership. For those lucky enough to not have yet been “selected” for the ACS, I do not exaggerate. These are actual questions from the survey.

Is there anyone in the US Congress standing up to this oppressive intrusion into our personal lives and demanding that the ACS be immediately halted?

KingSlav on March 8, 2010 at 3:18 pm

But did all of you VOTE?

Last week I voted in our Texas primaries, and of some 3,000 eligible voters in my precinct, only about 800 did so. I suppose the rest were listening to the fat boys on the radio and complaining.

Mack Hall on March 8, 2010 at 3:54 pm

I’m sorry for the problems your friend went through. I have decided that I’ll only answer the question related to the number of people residing at the house. I will keep my gate locked from that point on to keep any census agents off my property. In my area trespassing on private property will turn you into tree fertilizer.

chemman on March 8, 2010 at 4:40 pm

She said what was required to let them “count” the number of people at that location and that’s that. I did the same 10 years ago and they ended up calling and asking questions. This is what I said almost verbatim…
“There are two people at this location, you don’t need to know if they are white, black, yellow, or red, and you don’t need to know if they are male, female or both. Is it NOT true that your only constitutional duty is to do a head count, and everything else is NOT authorized, and therefore NOT mandatory upon me?
The census worker stood mute and then hung up.

Who cares? on March 8, 2010 at 5:07 pm

But, to Canada’s credit, they are one of israel’s best friends. In the Texas primary, not much to choose from; Hutchinson and Perry support illegal immigration, and although Medina didn’t, she is a total kook.

As far as expansion of the Constitution, we know that this is what liberals do — expand the power of government, and interpret the Constitution to allow whatever liberal or utopian schemes they are harping on from one day to the next.

Social services?? They count illegal aliens, and even though your friend got audited for $150, I’ll bet none of those illegal aliens is going to suffer any penalties. They’ll just get more social services. They don’t need amnesty; they have it already, and open borders are a fact.

And if they ask you what car you drive? You better not say Toyota or Honda. Make sure you drive a Government Motors car.

Little Al on March 8, 2010 at 6:13 pm

Well, I got one of those letters TODAY telling me they’ll send me a Census form.

I don’t want the government invading my privacy and violating their constitutional limits.

But I don’t want to be harassed by the Census folks either.

If I have to hire an attorney to fight them, I don’t have the funds to do so.

So what do I do? Practical advice, please and thank you.

Bay State Observer on March 8, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    Let your machine answer your phone and do not answer your door. Message? What message?

    RIck on March 9, 2010 at 11:07 pm

i have filled out a census form and all it asked me were a few questions about how many people lived at my house, no personal information or financial info was asked or even on the form, i also applied to be a census taker and was specifically told you were not allowed to ask anything personal or financial and if anyone comes to your door and asks that kind of info, they are scamming you and you should shut the door on them and make them leave your property or call the law.

USN V: This is no scam. There are short census forms, which most people get. And there are longer ones, which some of us will get that ask very detailed info. The pilot program was a preliminary version of that. DS

USN Vet on March 8, 2010 at 7:44 pm

They have several “surveys”. The one they harass me about is the college graduate’s survey. They ask very detailed information on pay, working hours, and other information. I don’t have time to look up how much I was paid in 1988 and subsequent years since. I throw it away and they keep sending me more. They kept calling me and I changed my phone number twice. I finally shut down my land phone and got voip. So far they haven’t discovered that number yet. They’ve come to the house but each time I haven’t been home. I don’t have a cell phone for them to track, either. These guys are worse than any bill collector. You’d think they would just fill out the form themselves, making up answers and turn it in. I really don’t know what drives these federal workers. They seem to think the world would end if it weren’t for the federal government.

Rail Fan on March 8, 2010 at 7:50 pm

Please forgive me for being a nudge, but what do I do here? I’m serious. What practical advice can I — and anyone else in my situation — do to keep these Census folks and forms off my back?

Thank you.

Bay State Observer on March 8, 2010 at 10:20 pm

    Read my post for a very entertaining suggestion…
    on what one can do & ask, to comply with the mandate for the Feds to do a head-count every 10 years…

    PS: this actually did work for myself 10 years ago. (no guarantee it will work today, but nothing has substantively changed so it should still work like a charm)

    Who cares? on March 9, 2010 at 1:26 pm

    as a Census taker this year all I can say is that we are only asked to collect very basic data, nothing dealing with money ect, and tbh I wouldnt feel right asking. They take count of ppl and race to help distrbute funds for certain programs and schools ect. Also, even though we are taught it is “mandate” to collect the census, we have no right to harrass anybody and we must show respect if the person we go to refuses.

    Heather on April 29, 2010 at 10:47 pm

When I get my census form I’ll fill it out exactly as the Constitution requires. If that is not sufficient and I’m paid a visit by some census worker I’ll make sure that I have my copy of the Constitution in my hand when I answer the door.

kenny komodo on March 8, 2010 at 11:22 pm

I too, received the American Community Survey this year. Very disturbing, particularly because a couple of years ago a census worker came to my home to fill out the very same survey. I began answering questions but when the questions became numerous, very detailed and personal I asked the woman to leave. She returned to my home and called my home multiple times trying to get me to finish the survey.

Supposedly I was “randomly” selected to fill out this survey again. Why have I been “randomly” selected multiple times??

I have consulted the internet about how to respond to this survey and read that one suffers the least harassment by not returning the survey at all. If one responds minimally or partially they are harassed, as I was previously, for completion of the entire survey.

For now (the past two weeks) I have the survey tucked away in my desk and have not responded. I would like to respond with the number of persons in my household and even their ages. But I fear a return of the census harassment I have already experienced.

I as well would like advice from anyone willing to share.

Suz on March 9, 2010 at 4:50 am

I was subject to the long-form survey in the last census, which I just tossed, both for its length and its obtrusiveness. Subsequently I had so many “visits” from the census-worker that I felt like I was being stalked and he was my stalker. I’d be working in my high-fenced back yard but with the gate open, and he’d come by and ask if I lived there. (“No, I just work here,” I replied.) He came by as late as 9 o’clock at night. (If he were a debt-collector, wouldn’t that be prohibited?) Given I work long hours and often on weekends as well, I wonder how many times he came by when I really wasn’t there. (That is, not counting the times I was home but didn’t answer the door.)
Finally, I told him to get off my property and leave me the f*** alone. I never saw him again.
They must be on a quota or something for the number of long-forms they get completed.

Mike B. on March 9, 2010 at 8:16 am

I am so glad that you wrote about this. It’s funny, because I just received a letter yesterday informing me that I will (oh joy) be getting the complete census in the mail next week. What annoyed me the most about this letter is that at the bottom it gives a website for “help completing your form when it arrives”. This is then repeated 5 more times in 5 different languages…give me a break! Learn English if you live here for starters!It also says on this letter that my response is important so that the community will get its fair share of government funds for highways, schools, etc. Whatever…they are just going to know that 2 people live here…thanks for the good advice everyone!

Angela04 on March 9, 2010 at 8:42 am

I got the long form this year also. In fact, I received three of them. I guess when they didn’t get it back from me the first time, they figured send another one. Each one stated in was mandatory that I fill out the long form under penalty of law. Like Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, I refuse to fill it out, as it is none of their business. She was castigated in the MSM for her stand (of course they made it sound like she refuses to be counted, and that is not what she wants, she just won’t give them the additional info). I take the same stand.

As an historian, that has done extensive research using census records, I have no problem giving them more than just how many people at the residence, but the additional I will give them is minor. Starting with the first census in 1790, the usual info collected was, name, sex, age, state or country of birth, parents state or country of birth. And that was the way it was through at least the 1930’s, which was the last census released to posterity. And that is all they will get from me.

I have had no harassment yet, but then I just ignored the previous illegally sent forms – illegal in that they state I can be prosecuted under law for not answering and returning them – which is a lie, since they can not ask me all those questions, and tell me I must answer. If I receive the short form, they will only get the info as I stated above, and if they come to the door, it will be the same. If they threathen me, I will call the police and make a citizen’s arrest for terrorism, and have them handcuffed and carted off to jail.

Quiet Man on March 9, 2010 at 8:45 am

    On the old census forms,they also asked if you could read.I was looking at 1920 census records and discovered that my aunt’s husband, a very handsome and kind man, couldn’t read!!

    newssleuth on March 9, 2010 at 7:29 pm

      Oh yeah, in that 1920 census they also asked for your occupation

      newssleuth on March 9, 2010 at 7:34 pm

I wrote to my paper and on several sites I belong to about my run in with these people. They wanted to know everything from what political party i belong to, to how many firearms I own.
It started out with one young girl comming to my door when I refused to answer all but how many people lived here then it went to 2 people to 4 rather large people who made all sorts of outlandish claims.
In the end they got 5 people live here and the door slammed in their face. Thats all they need, thats all they get!!!!

martin fee on March 9, 2010 at 9:44 am

I was harrassed in the 2000 census when I lived in a small Texas Border town working a Federal Agent for the U.S. Border Patrol! I was also a single female living alone. I filled out the census form and mailed it in earlier. I was then harrassed repeatedly by a census worker who wanted to interview me further and come into my home. I told him who I was and knew that I didn’t have to answer anything further nor let him in my home. I told him that I was very familiar with the law since I enforced it everyday then told him I had my service weapon on me and slammed the door in his face..he continued to call and come to my home. I basically called the cops on him, reported him to my agency, his supervisor and got the Office of Inspector General involved. I guess he got the message and left me alone after that. Call the local cops and the regional office (of the census bureau)of your area when you get harrassed. Harrassment and threats are illegal! It’s your residence and property! NO census worker should be invited into your home! What’s ironic about all this is I had to listen for months leading up to the census the big campaign in the media outlets about how the census wouldn’t release the info. to any law enforcement and all people need to be counted including illegals and how they wouldn’t go to jail. I, a federal agent and U.S. citizen, was threatened with prosecution and jail by this worker. I laughed in his face and basically went after him. Hope he lost his job!

Federal Cop on March 9, 2010 at 9:59 am

The IRS needs to be the first of many government agencies we should defund and shut down. This is a great start to balancing the budget and neutering the statists.

JLin on March 9, 2010 at 10:44 am

Years ago, here in MA, I was informed that if I did not comply with the census, in its entirety, I would not be allowed to vote.

J on March 9, 2010 at 12:11 pm

Yesterday I got a letter in the mail telling me I would soon get a census form, and that when I get it I should fill it out and so on. I am assuming most or everyone is getting one of these letters. How much do you supose it costs to send all of them out?

John H on March 9, 2010 at 3:29 pm

We all know why they want this information. So more money can go to those who only have one toilet, etc. This is anothe redistributive income scheme, whereby the poor areas (those with 1 toilet and 12 people living in the house) will get the most money.

mike s on March 9, 2010 at 7:52 pm

I read some time ago that they had inadvertently not finger printed the census workers and that a whole lot of census workers were actually criminals. It would be EXTREMELY DANGEROUS for anyone to open the door to these people!

Linda R on March 9, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    Wow! I Just read what you wrote about how last time some of the workers didnt get finger printed.. if this is true I must say they learned. This time around during our training we got finger printed 2 times! (I have no idea why they did it 2 times but oh well) and it was a full fledge doing, not just one or two fingers.

    Heather on April 29, 2010 at 10:51 pm

Pilot program? C’mon. There is the very detailed American Community Survey conducted yearly and then there is the decennial (every ten years) Census. Don’t confuse them — they are not related. The ACS is performed on a tiny percentage of the population, but the Census is to be completed by every household. There is no ‘long form’ this year — just the 10-question one everyone will receive.
In your Constitutional cite, it says ‘in such Manner as they (the Congress) shall by Law direct.’ That is the legal and Constitutional basis for asking the questions.

Dick H on March 10, 2010 at 12:14 am

Got the special form more than a month ago. “Your response is required by law” was printed boldly on envelope, so I responded. I answered 2 at ‘How many people live at this address?’, sealed it up and mailed it out.

Three weeks ago, I got the same survey(?) in the mail. I just threw it out. They must have made some mistake.

I always shred junk mail, un-opened, and delete junk phone messages as soon as I make that determination. I’m a busy person.

I don’t answer the door for people I don’t recognize. Lately, some crazy folk keep coming knocking and ringing my doorbell, sometimes twice in one day,and leaving envelopes and business cards lying all about the place. They dress nice and such. I think it must be a religious group because they wear some kind of ten-pointed star charm on their belts. I never read what they leave. I just grind it in the shredder –except for the business cards and such that blow off the porch and lie about the flower bed like some solicitor bone yard. Their easy to see from the porch, but hard to get to. I’m a busy person.

I suggest this:
DO NOT answer your door to strangers or engage them in any way.
DO NOT read or open junk mail or stuff lying about your door.
IMMEDIATELY delete junk phone messages at the outset of the message.

After all, one would not want to INTENTIONALLY neglect to respond to a request from the Secretary Of Commerce or from any of his/her duly appointed employees. That could cost $100.

Jess on March 10, 2010 at 2:51 am

I had to contact the police yesterday who came to the house to write a report because some Census people were harassing my mom via phone and threatening her with refusing to fill out the form “via phone”. The call was coming from Louisiana and we live in another state. The census my mom received in January 2010 (which was way before the announcement of the actual census being sent out this week in March) was over 10 pages. I got suspicious of the census form and found out online that it’s not considered legit. I contacted the Census office and was instructed not to fill out the large census forms because it was not considered legitimate. My mom received the 10 questionnaire sheet yesterday afternoon after the police had stopped by to fill out a complaint report. I contacted DO NOT CALL in the government website to see if these calls stop. Whpever these people are, I consider evil because if they know that they’re contacting elderly people and start to harrass them on the phone, they can sustain a heart attack. How cruel some people in this part of the world are!!!! Shame on them.

Ive on March 16, 2010 at 7:01 am

Debbie,
According to this story by WXYZ, if you don’t answer all the questions it will result in a fine;
“By law, the Census Bureau cannot share your information with other government agencies. But even if you don’t like the questions, you are legally obligated to anwer them all. If you don’t, expect a phone call or visit from a Census worker. Still don’t answer, and you could face a fine of up to $100. Answer falsely and you could face a $500 fine. ”

http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story/Census-Questions-Do-I-Have-to-Answer-Them-All/EJudtXKDMEOlJkSHIFNcxQ.cspx

Dan on March 22, 2010 at 6:33 pm

I was working at a job site that wasn’t even opened yet (2009) and had no residents in it as it was an under construction housing project and these stupid census workers had it listed as an already opened facility but there was no one living there. Yes I know that this year is the census but they were still sending people out to gather info. This is how outdated thier info is. The US Census Bureau just recieved a $300 Million dollar grant for electronic devices (the devices were breaking down) to count people with that has turned into a #3 BILLION DOLLAR debacle. So far only 67 Million people have filled out and returned the forms yet there are 375+ Million people in the USA.

Dennis on April 3, 2010 at 1:57 pm

Just want to say that I will be a Census worker this year and I agree that it would also piss me off if another Census worker kept coming back to me and harrassing me for info! At our training we are told that we are never ever to push a person into giving out information. If they refuse to co-op, we are to just thank them and move on! I know for personal saftey and out of respect I will never push to collect data, and nobody else should either. Thats just stupid and rude.

Heather on April 29, 2010 at 10:18 pm

You guys are a bunch of Idiots!!!!! And why do you need my email for me to post?? you going to still my identity how am i going to trust you wont publish it like stated??? yea sounds crazy huh

Tom on May 1, 2010 at 10:45 pm

If you want to be mad be mad at the government – NOT the people who are trying to earn money to care for their families by working the census for a few weeks! Though there may be a few bad apples in the bunch not every census worker is harassing or threatening you! As a census worker this year I’ve already been cursed out, had something thrown at me, and been threatened bodily harm – and by doing nothing else but following the script! Your credit card company or bank asks for more information that the US Census does!
BTW – it is NOT ILLEGAL for a census worker to come on your property (whether it’s marked no trespassing or not) so if you were to threaten or actually harm them you would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law!

Jen on May 2, 2010 at 1:01 pm

    Jen, could you please cite or provide any info as to why it is that trespassing laws do not apply to census workers? Your comment is the first I’ve heard of this. If it is indeed true, please enlighten us as to where you’re getting this info. Thanks

    jane on May 7, 2010 at 12:10 pm

    Not quite sure where you got this, but a census working is not a cop or an fbi agent, if there is a no trespassing sign and they enter your property anyway they will be treated as any other trespasser and thrown in jail, simple as that.

    Kole on May 7, 2010 at 4:54 pm

This website should answer some of the questions put forth here.

http://2010.census.gov/partners/pdf/ConstituentFAQ.pdf

Census workers are government officials and they are protected by law. In order to do this hated job they are fingerprinted and investigated. They are instructed to ask questions, but not harass residents.

Residents have the right to refuse to answer any questions or to give as much or as little information as they choose.

Jen’s information is absolutely correct, a Census worker has the right to come to your front door. A Census worker is instructed not to enter your home unless you, the resident, specifically requests this accommodation.

Please be kind to your Census worker, who is a working stiff just like you, except without an office, office supplies nor a paid for cell phone.

Save our government money, if you have no intention of answering, just say that you are refusing in protest. This REFUSAL will be noted and it is very likely that there will be further contact. Fewer visits means less money spent.

Eily on May 7, 2010 at 9:29 pm

I understand that the census workers are trying to make a living like everyone else but, what my family I have been through with these workers has been a nightmare. We received the short census form (names and how may people live in your household) returned it in the mail right away. A couple weeks later a guy came to the door (I have 2 small children with autism) my husband was at work I DO NOT answer the door when I am home alone with our children. He hung around for a good 10 minutes. He kept coming back on the weekends (again when my husband was working) He came about 4-5 times when my husband wasn’t home. He came again a couple days later and right when my husband was coming home with our son from swimming he came to the house and my husband couldn’t even get in the door. He asked him questions as my husband was getting out of the van. This was like at 7pm at night. Our son was getting upset and crying when he was asking questions. My husband answered them and he left.(also, let the worker know how upset he was) Have gotten 2 phone calls since then and now today (On a Saturday) a lady came from the Census wanting info…WHAT??? We already filled out your form/sent it in and also answered the questions that the guy had asked now why is someone else coming to ask questions again??? We feel that this is harassment!!!! We are very busy people and have a lot going on in our lives and don’t time for this. Next time just going to call the cops.It doesn’t matter what your income is NOONE should have to put up with harassment!!!!

Tiff on May 8, 2010 at 3:44 pm

Where are our right’s? I guess we have none anymore!!!!!
I had a guy from the censes walk with out invitation into my back yard. No one was home. He took my cell # of a sign in the back yard and keeps calling me. I am out of town. I asked him how he got my cell he proudly said I went into your back yard. I called the censes and asked if he can do this no one had the answerer. They wanted me to leave my # so they could call me back. I said you cost me enough minutes and time already I am going to call the police and the TV station will blog about it and tweet. The lady was not to happy.
Where is my right and is this not trespassing???

Angie on May 12, 2010 at 1:55 pm

he was at my house last week I live alone and I told him I was a legal taxpaying citizen that works 2 jobs he asked me if I had a mortgage I replied yes then he asked my age and my birthdate and then left.

lucky freeman on May 13, 2010 at 9:52 pm

I thought that the constitution garanteed us the right to be secure in our papers possesions and property and especially if our property was posted privat property keep out. I though this was the taxpaying property owners right and if I have done nothing wrong that nobody should be allowed on my property unles they were invited by the owner.

lucky freeman on May 13, 2010 at 9:56 pm

I had received two forms, one for “unit 1” and a second for “unit 2”. My home has always been one unit. There has NEVER been an apartment in this house and how they got that information is beyond me. I filled out the one form with the required information to include the number of occupants, sex and ages and immediately mailed it back. Today some woman shows up stating she is with the Census and asked about a second unit in my home (which is tiny and obviously not a two family dwelling). I told her that information was incorrect and this was always a one family unit with two occupants currently residing here. I told her this information was provided as required by law. She continued to ask me again my name and the names of the occupants and ages and I told her I supplied this info and she stated she needed this again. I gave the information and then she asked our dates of birth and I told her that was it. Please get off my property. We are done here. I closed my window and she continued to knock on my door and then proceeded to walk up my driveway. My husband then walked out the side door and asked her what she was doing and she asked if this was a one or two unit dwelling. He told her this was a one unit home and there were no other occupants and then asked why she was leering down our driveway. she stated “have you seen the commercials?” Then she moved on to her next victim, my neighbor.

I purposely did my part, complied with the law and I am STILL being harrassed because of an error made on their part? I will retain a lawyer if this continues. I take nothing from the government and greatly resent the idea of spreading the wealth, especially when I work 3 jobs, killing myself, to pay my bills, TAXES, and have a few extra dollars!

Linda on May 15, 2010 at 3:20 pm

Didn’t mail in the form. Census worker came last week and was extremely nice. Only answered how many people live in the home. The guy didn’t have a problem with this. This week, a different census worker has come repeatedly. Again, we only answered how many people are in the home. He told us we would be audited by the IRS for not answering. You think?

Nancy on May 22, 2010 at 3:01 pm

OMG the 12th harrassment from the “goverment worker” just happened. I am disgusted by them! I tell them I filled it out with just the basic -how many people live here. But, they keep coming. Do they do this to big muscled single men, too? Or just single women? Damn I wish I was that big muscled man right now!

Getting scared on June 2, 2010 at 8:19 pm

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