Census 2021

[Maiden Stone]

Gilig reply #106. That young man was quick off the mark. Over-zealous imo. Isn't it obvious that many census returns will be in the post? If I put something in my nearest post box on Monday it might not begin its' journey until Tuesday. I received a Christmas card in mid-January. Are you sure the man was genuine? There's bound to be a census scam.

[Gillg]

Yes, I'm pretty sure he was genuine.  As I said, he wore a hi-vis jacket with Census 2021 emblazoned on it and carried one of those devices that parcel deliverers use to check details.  It seems pretty elaborate if it was some kind of a scam.....and he didn't ask us for our bank details!!  Of course it could have been some kind of a trick to check whether the house was empty prior to burgling it, but as it happens we were both in and both came to the door from different parts of the house.  I'll ask around and see if anyone else locally was visited by him. 

[groom]

That does seem a bit odd, there is no way that they would have had time to cross check whether or not you had completed your census either on line on by the post. Census day wasn't until Sunday so, as said below, the earliest the forms would have reached the census office would have been Tuesday!

It would have been interesting to have seen what would have happened if you'd said you hadn't completed it - would he have tried to implement the £1000 fine?

Oh look - scam!

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/census-scams-warning-woman-hands-20223362

[Gillg]

Gosh, Groom, that has set me thinking and wondering whether if I had been on my own he would have asked me for cash!  He seemed like such a nice lad, in fact we joked afterwards about how he would cope if faced by a fierce, non-compliant householder. 

[Maiden Stone]

Gilig reply #106. That young man was quick off the mark. Over-zealous imo. Isn't it obvious that many census returns will be in the post? If I put something in my nearest post box on Monday it might not begin its' journey until Tuesday.

I checked emptying time of my nearest post-box. 1 collection Monday-Friday 9 a.m. I normally post things when I'm going to the shop beside it or when passing it en route elsewhere. I seldom go out specially to post something unless it's urgent. If I'd posted a census return on Monday it wouldn't have begun its' journey until Tuesday morning. The earliest delivery day would be Wednesday.
 Our local post office closed a couple of years ago. It was replaced by a post office counter in a shop on the main road. There's no post-box outside as there was at the original post office. I've rarely gone into that shop in the past year as it's too busy and cramped for my comfort.
I suspect Gillg's caller was a scammer. If he was genuine it was a waste of taxpayers' money. I suggest Gillg informs local council, neighbourhood police, and local community group.   

[BumbleB]

We had our reminder letter today!!  Posted the completed form on Monday 22nd.  If "push comes to shove" then we have scanned copies of our pages.

[cath151]

Hi
My husband applied for and got the job of Census Officer, they all started on the Tuesday after the 21st so I'd guess he was a genuine caller. I think they might have started a little later and let the census returned by post come in but ONS very keen. He is working the next 4 weeks or so in contacting people and trying to help them complete or return the census. No pressure, genuinely there to help.
After that there will be another swathe of officers and non compliance officers.
Not had too much abuse so far, couple of dodgy dogs though!
But I agree, watch out for scams.
Cathy

[Gillg]

Completed our paper census form on Sunday (21st) and posted it Monday morning at the village post office and got proof of posting (well, you never know).  This afternoon (Tuesday) a young man in a hi-vis jacket emblazoned with the words "Census 2021" knocked on our door, saying that according to records we hadn't yet submitted our census form.  We were, of course, able to reassure him that it had been posted and he said he had found that a lot of people had chosen to complete the paper forms. 

Beware all census dodgers.  Big Brother is watching you!

Today received a reminder letter from the census office, telling us that we hadn't submitted our form and issuing the £1000 threat, also giving us yet another reference code (we had one for the online form and another for the paper form).  I'm so glad I got the proof of posting from the post office and would be on the phone now giving them a blast, but it's Saturday and I don't suppose there'll be anyone there.  Can't argue with a recorded message satisfactorily, can you?  What will be their next move, I wonder?

[groom]

Seems to me that there is a lot of money being wasted. Why didn't they wait at least a week before sending out reminders. With the state of the post at the moment it could take at least a week for a census form to reach the ONS.

Also if they are issuing different codes for paper and online, it must mean that someone has to cross check addresses to make sure it hasn't been completed twice!

I have a feeling they will decide it is too much trouble, expense and waste of time, so this will be the last census as we know it. It will be easier to collect information from other sources.