My census troubles...

USAF385

USAF385

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Way back when the census form was being filled out, I filled mine out as soon as I got it and returned it. Simple!

About a month ago I got a call asking to verify some info. They had my address wrong so I corrected them. I have an RR address (ex: RR 2 Box 57) but they kept making it a street address (ex: 57A Oak Road). We do not have physical addresses set up yet, so no, what they told me is not my address. I also have no idea where the "A" came from.

I corrected them, and they said they would need to call back to verify. They called back, but started the same conversation over. I again corrected them. This time the worker said the system wasn't working and that I should call them back.

Well, I didn't because I knew they'd get back to me.. which they did. Again the conversation started the same way, and when I got to the address, I corrected them.

I seriously got about 7 or 8 calls like this. A few days back I came home and found a message from them on my answering machine. I called them back and immediately asked to talk to a supervisor. The person tried to deal with me himself, but couldn't. I again asked (maybe demanded) to speak to his supervisor.

I explained the situation and he claimed he got it straightened out. He said I might receive another call because it might take a while to get updated in "the system". A week had passed and they didn't call. I figured they got it right.

Wrong... another message from the census bureau was on my machine today. "Please call us back in reference to case number blah blah blah".

:mad:

I'm sick of this. I'm trying to find a number for the census bureau other than what they have been giving me, but the number on the site is the same as what they give me. I have a feeling that since these workers have a temporary job... they're dragging it out by being incompetent so they don't have to find a real job.

The number they keep giving me is 866-851-2010, which is the same as on the web site. I want to find a way to contact someone higher up but I'm not having any luck.

Edit: Just found a different number under "contact us" on the site.. I'll try that later.
 
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I was just reading your post and would like you to verify some information, please call me at 1-800-BAD-GOVT reference case number......:D
 
Ignore them. I have been having great fun with them. If incompetent part-time government workers steam you up, your expectations are just unreasonably high.
 
ingmansinc said:
Call your US Representative and complain. I'm betting he will fix the problem. It always works for me.;)
Click to expand...

Absolutely correct. Nothing is faster at resolving a problem you have with a government agency than a call on your behalf from a staffer (even a junior staffer!) in the office of someone who votes on the agency budget.
 
Uhhhhhhh-
I would simply have agreed with them the first time.
They're happy, I'm happy, and they can't find me if they come looking (no such address).
Problem solved.
Dad always said "never miss a good chance to shut up"
:D
 
personally after about the fifth call I would have spoken to a supervisor and told him this was his last chance to fix the error or what he has in his system will stay there. I wouldn't play pattycake with him, and hold his hand to do his job. you are much more patient than I.
 
I got a call from those census idiots, too. They had my right name and telephone number, but the address was a different house number on a different street. I tried to correct them, but now I sure hope they call me back again. I will agree to whatever address they want. If the government ever comes for my guns, they'll be going to the wrong house.
 
Next time they call --- Don't Correct Them!
Everyone's happy and they quit calling.

Like the man said : Problem solved
 
Don't ask, don't tell, don't answer the door unless you know the person and if they call you tell them to send you a letter for your files.

Or just agree with the SOB's as you know the government is always right.
 
oh this should be interesting then.... I have two addresses for my house. One seems to be something randomly assigned and the other was given when 911 came online. a difference of 315 between the two, so even the side of the street the house is on is in question. Let's see em find me.
 
I filled my Census form out and sent it back within a couple of days. About two weeks ago, I got ANOTHER form in the mail, with instructions to fill it out and send it back, since I hadn't done it the first time. I threw it away. I figure if the USPS can't get it there, the Census Bureau won't know what to do with the info anyway.
 
I called them back.............

I called them back and immediately asked to talk to the person's supervisor, who said it probably wasn't important and that I might not get any more calls.

....... huh?

I asked to talk to his supervisor.. and he asked "why?".

I told him "you've called me a dozen times and now you tell me it's not important? Let me talk to your supervisor."

I finally got to talk to his supervisor. He was a little more helpful. The best he could tell is that somewhere my phone number was used with some other person's address. :confused: I bet a typo at the census's end.

Again, he claimed that HE indeed sorted it out. I have the other number to try if they call me again.

Why am I being so persistent? Why not? I'm paying them. If I've already gone through all this I want to be counted correctly.

Plus it has become fun to get the workers flustered.
 
I had an interesting experience with the census, too.

I didn't send in the form. Too many questions on it, most of which are none of their business.

I was mowing and looked up to see an old beater pickup that I didn't recognize in the driveway. So, I motor up to the house to see who it is.

It is two men, one in his 20's and an older one, probably in his 70's. They were around by the front door, apparently ringing the doorbell nonstop as the dogs inside were going nuts. They, for whatever reason, seemed to me to act very sheepishly, as if they'd been caught doing something wrong. It was very windy, so I invited them into the garage, out of the wind.

They identified themselves, and the older gentleman says, "this will only take about 15 minutes" to which I responded, "No, it won't, because I'm not going to answer most of your questions." Neither seemed to have a problem with that and seemed almost sympathetic.

They got my name and age but when it came to the race question, I said, "I'm not answering that. You can put down whatever you like, but if you put down 'white', you'll be wrong." and left it at that. They seemed OK with that and soon left.

I went in the house to settle the dogs down and get a drink. I resumed mowing, and on the next lap, I looked up to see the dogs running loose in the yard. So, up comes the mower, and I put the tractor in road gear and head for the house to catch the little one because it likes to run away.

I figured I must have not gotten the door latched in the garage when I came back out, so I was mighty surprised to see that door latched tightly when I got there. I walked around to the front of the house and the front door was standing wide open. I hadn't touched the front door since I'd gotten home from work--only the census boys were near it, and since the dogs were in the house, I know it was closed when I got home.

Then, I read in the paper that night (I think this was a Tuesday) that census workers were going to start visiting houses on the following Saturday.
 
Last edited:
I haven't got a form,got a letter saying I was to get a form...back in April and still no form :confused:

And no one has shown up ether :confused: :confused:

I plan to move soon so I dunno just what's gonna happen :D
 
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