Anyone Been Harassed by Statistics Canada?
 

Anyone here ever been harassed by Statistics Canada? A good friend is being harassed every couple of days to answer a voluntary survey. He keeps telling him he isn't interested but a couple of days later he's back asking him to answer the survey again. WTF? Anyone else have to deal with these idiots? If you have what did you do to get them to stop bothering you?

Could it possibly be a scam? Tell him to call a Statistics Canada office to see wassup

I think most smartphones nowadays have a block number option. I know the iphone does and it works wonders.

He did and it's legit.

The problem is they don't phone, they just keep coming to his door even after he's told them he's not interested. It's like they're zombies or something. WTF?

Sounds like he may have been selected for the National Household Survey, the replacement for the previously mandatory long form census.

They use the info for economic/social/etc planning.

I know your friend doesn't want to bother, but collection of that info is pretty important, even more so now since it's voluntary. Anyone with any statistics knowledge knows what a mess Harper caused when he cancelled the old mandatory long form census.

It used to be 1 in 5 households had to answer, but now due to the way lower response rate to the voluntary NHS, they have to approach 1 in 3 households now. And they can't even compare the some of the new data with the pre 2011 data since the population samples have changed, and it even costs more to get the data too.

Great fix to an non existent problem.

Anyways that's probably why they're pressing your friend so hard.

oh thats fucked then. is it like the same guy

i usually go with something like this.

survey official: hi, we need 10mins of your time to do this survey
me: am i getting paid
SO: no, this will only take 10mins.
me: if you can answer this question, i will complete your survey: you get paid by [name agency] to come out and get people to volunteer their time for the survey. Would you volunteer your time or do this for free? likely not right? what makes you think I'm any different from you?
SO:.............
me: please don't bother me again, unless you get approval from your superiors to pay me in cash. I'll take $20 at the least.
SO:............
me: have a good day.

Yeah, it's the same idiot!

Ha! That's a good one! Think it might work too! I've heard these guys can't stand having people waste their time.

It wouldn't be a surprise if they get a commission for each person they can get to do this stupid survey!

having worked at census before i can assure that this is absurd. the easiest way to get rid of the guy is to just do the survey. it'll take maybe 5-10 minutes in most cases.

they don't ask anything actually about you or your name. usually stuff like how many people in household, any kids, stuff like that. even if you had 10 illegal tenants and told them that they don't care. it's just to get an idea for things like schools in the area if there are lots of kids etc.

when people complain that there isn't enough of a service in their area these surveys help them identify that. not saying it's a fix but it's supposed to be a start.

Only problem is that once you start they'll just come back again for another survey.

I had family dealt with these surveys and they only take like 15 minutes out of your or your buddy's time. LITERALLY 15 minutes and you will be on your merry way and they leave you alone. Would you rather complete a 15 minute survey or be hassled every other day for it?

Hopefully, they don't have to deal with more surveys later on or be chosen for one of those surveys that takes months to complete because they are now seen as being very accommodating.

This has nothing to do with the private survey companies that call you up all the time for other surveys.

Their way of doing things sure makes them look like they are one of those companies.

They must be getting a low response rate for your friend's area.

Which was why it was stupid for the Harper Government to make the changes in the first place. Previously 1 in 5 families were contacted and it was mandatory. They got a 98% response rate. Since the change, 65% response rate overall?, including some areas with a 0% response rate.

How are you supposed to do any kind of forecasting or planning with no data?

That said though, if it was a private survey company, I'd tell them to take a hike too. IF it was Stats Can, I'd happy answer their questions, because of what the data is used for.

the only problem is you don't know what you're talking about. you're badly misinformed about statistics canada.

they don't keep records of the house or person. i can't explain that any simpler.

that means they won't be calling back once the surveys done. understand?

They should also respect a person's privacy though. If they don't want to participate then that should be respected. They shouldn't have to deal with continuous harassment.

If they need 1 out of 3 households to participate then effectively you or one of your neighbours either side needs to do it. Just take the 15 minutes and help improve the area you live in and be done with it, or don't complain if changes made near your home don't make sense.

The survey has nothing to do with improving the area he lives in.

He called the police and they're now looking into it.

If nothing works just https://uproxx.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/abm-2.gif