Wednesday 9 March 2011

Stand up and be counted

That's my census done. I can't decide whether the safest and most secure way to return it is through the post, or go to the web site and complete it online. I am sure this question didn't arise ten years ago when we had the last one. Did we have computers then?

In this day and age of identity theft, is it going to be safe to put my details into the online version, and hope no one hacks into it, bearing in mind that I don't trust computers and never shop online. But there again I did my tax return on line, so I took a chance then.

Or is it safe to put it in the post box, knowing that tens of thousands of other people will be doing the same thing, and some of the forms might get lost or stolen. Crooks could have a field day by using them to forge documents.

Spose I could save the cost of a postage stamp by doing it online. Well I've got till the 27th of March to think about it. What is everybody else doing?

14 comments:

  1. Luckily we have hand collectors who come to your home, obviously we have a lot less people to be able to do this:) It's a pity there isn't an official drop off collection point where you can hand deliver it etc. We have a census every five years, last one being 2006 and that was the first time it could be completed online. I do heaps online now, even banking which I was always fearful of, like you I do my taxes online which has all my personal information etc. Oh dear now I see your dilemma..... Personally I think I would do it online. Linda xxx

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  2. Done ours online, too lazy to write and post...

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  3. Although I shop and bank online I'm not prepared to send so much info at once about my whole household (7 of us) over the internet so I'll be posting mine. I hate the census's intrusion of privacy anyway so will fill in the bare minimum. In this day and age surely the government has access to enough statistic about us without wasting so much money in a time of recession by doing this census.

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  4. Hi Ilona - great post as usual! I love your eclectic style talking about anything you fancy rather than blogging on one specific subject. I want to put a post about you on my own blog next week (all good of course!) Can I use one of the photos of you. I'm thinking of the one where you were speaker at the posh do last year? x

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  5. The Census form comes with a Freepost reply envelope Ilona, so you can post it back for free. But not yet! The forms are supposed to be filled for March 27th or soon thereafter :O)

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  6. As it's got a Freepost envelope, I'll be posting mine. But, like you, I am wary of so many forms all being in the system at once, some are bound to be lost or mislaid!! :-(

    Sue xx

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  7. The Census is supposed to be a snapshot of Britain on the 27th March 2011. as a keen genealogist who can't wait to see the 1911 Census records released, so that i can view the snapshot of my relatives on that day in history, I tend to think of it as a good thing. But of course in 1911 they did not have to worry about information being sold to the highest bidder - all the same I do believe alot of people felt that it was an intrusion into their privacy - I think of it as creating history - and this year I have a dilemma, I shall be away from home on the 27th, out of the country in fact. According to the rules of bygone census days I should not be listed in it at all, not sure what the present day rules on that are, will need to look it up. What a puzzle it could be for future generations if they check the census and wonder why I have not been listed.

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  8. This topic has thrown up a lot of interesting comments.
    Jane, if you look inside the back page, page 31, it will tell you that you should fill the form in, as you are temporarily away from home visiting friends or relatives.

    Of course it is freepost, Jane, silly me. Still a big target for thieves though, bundles of them lying around in the sorting office.

    heleng, you will need a second questionnaire, there is only space for six people. What a pain, can you just send someone away for the night, ha ha. Or send them here, I have five empty spaces on my form.

    Hi lovely grey, I'm chuffed that you like my blog. I like to chat about anything and everything, variety is the spice of life. I don't read the same book over and over again :o) Go ahead and borrow my pic, I am flattered.

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  9. Ooops sorry, we have got two Jane's. I meant Billie Jane with reference to filling the form out when she won't be here.

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  10. online - don't trust Royal Mail but then again the internet can be just as bad!

    Josie x

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  11. The internet can crash....like HMRG website as the tax year nears its end......
    All the info will be entered online anyway.

    I'll be using the paper one, when it turns up- then I can go hrough it to check it and not inadvertently click on the wrong thing.

    Besides which, we need to back our posties!!

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  12. Good point about backing Posties, we need them.

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  13. I`m unsure to the true purpose of this sensus. In the back of my mind a little voice tells me it`s a big brother/keeping tabs on folk by the government. Too much info is asked for, me thinks. I shall give as little info as necessary. Your fears of some of those sensus papers falling into the wrong hands are another concern! I don`t think we should be forced to comply with this questionaire if we are truely worried about privacy intrution. I have not made my mind up yet if I want to fill it out at all.

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  14. We can be careful how we fill this in. But there is no choice.

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