American Community Survey

[Buckalew11]

Has anyone here received this survey? I have a client who received one and is quite upset by it. She said it asks very personal questions and that if you will not answer the questions you will be fined by the government.

 

[Serena]

Bren, I've never heard of it. I already don't like it though.

 

[Bust*A*Stitch]

can we get a copy?

 

[Buckalew11]

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/SBasics/SQuest/SQuest1.htm

 

[DISUNC]

HOLY CRAP! I never heard of this...sooooooooooooo I googled!

Here is one article about it!!! And YES YOU MUST ANSWER IT!

http://www.rutherford.org/articles_db/commentary.asp?record_id=299

 

[Buckalew11]

It is amazing the questions on that thing! It really does seem like an invasion of privacy. She said it was not addressed to her but to "resident" at her address. It asks such personal questions--money questions, how many live in your household, do you work, what time of day (general) do you leave for work, there is not too many stones unturned! She was really upset and afraid of the fine or being harrassed. I am wondering how legal it is to say answer this survery or be fined. How would they know you even received it? I throw most "resident" things away w/o opening and told her she should trash it.

 

[DISUNC]

I throw most "resident" things away w/o opening and told her she should trash it.

Me too! I always throw 'resident' mail out!
I wonder if I got it and they are coming for me!

This seems to have been around a few years. I cant believe its NOT well known!

 

[mking624]

I looked through the 2005 survey...honestly I really don't take issue with answering of the questions. People give off way more personal information (IMO) on this board than I saw on the survey. But I can see it being bothersome for some people and I do find it ridiculous that you could be fined for not answering.

 

[Buckalew11]

Well, you may be right. I have seen posts here that I consider way too personal also. But, on this survey you give your name etc. and who is to say the people who have access to this info are on the up and up? This lady lives alone and is a bit unnerved by all this. Can't say I blame her.

 

[mking624]

Well, you may be right. I have seen posts here that I consider way too personal also. But, on this survey you give your name etc. and who is to say the people who have access to this info are on the up and up? This lady lives alone and is a bit unnerved by all this. Can't say I blame her.

Well a lot of the info that I saw from the 2005 one (which could be different from the one she got, I don't know) is also a matter of public record. That's probably why I'm personally not so bothered by it.

 

[DISUNC]

Well, you may be right. I have seen posts here that I consider way too personal also. But, on this survey you give your name etc. and who is to say the people who have access to this info are on the up and up? This lady lives alone and is a bit unnerved by all this. Can't say I blame her.

When I get the survey I will put the name "DISUNC" on it!

 

[Buckalew11]

Well a lot of the info that I saw from the 2005 one (which could be different from the one she got, I don't know) is also a matter of public record. That's probably why I'm personally not so bothered by it.

We looked it up while she was here and she said it is pretty much the exact survey from what she remembered. She also said that a lot of this info is out there in different places but she felt uncomfortable putting it all down on one survey. Needing to know the time of day you leave your house? How long of a commute you have? All about your home? Your income (salary, interest income etc.), whether your spouse is active duty? It just seems very invasive to me.

 

[Buckalew11]

When I get the survey I will put the name "DISUNC" on it!

 

[Planogirl]

If they handle like they did the last time, a census taker will show up at your door to interview you if you don't return it. I did this work for a while and it was interesting to say the least!