My census enumerator

Oh_Noes · 01-04-2011 04:37AM #1

The guy appears to be on a stakeout. I live in an urban area and there are a lot of quite casual residences. No one around really cares for the census (including myself) so the enumerator has become a bit of a pest in the area.

Every night he's in his car trying to get forms to people who aren't there most of the time, they're at work or otherwise and the last thing they want when they come home is to be quizzed by him. I've been as helpful as I can with him but I do feel sorry for him for having to basically stalk people so that he can be paid. I had to "shoo" him earlier because he was really banging on a neighbouring door of someone that he can't get a hold of but seems determined to do so. He was making such a racket and I thought there was some kind of incident going on.

I remember when these jobs came up, there was massive competition. The enumerators I've experienced in five or six different areas in my town are all people who are "connected" in some way: former teachers, wives of doctors etc.

I've heard a few different explanations of the pay rate. One was that they are paid €2,500 for the whole job, other figures I've seen are that they get €2 per dropoff and €2 per collection and then an administrative fee of some kind. Does anyone have any information on what they're being paid?

It seems like a rotten job and I'm surprised that there was so much initial interest and that the enumerators doing it are already wealthy people.

Nothingbetter2d · 01-04-2011 04:56AM

yup mine is like that too.... there is 6 flats in the house im in...... he has spoken to the people in all but one of them........ he keeps missing them but yet has to annoy me by banging on the door every feckin day.

sunnyday2012 · 01-04-2011 06:31AM

Nothingbetter2d wrote: »

yup mine is like that too.... there is 6 flats in the house im in...... he has spoken to the people in all but one of them........ he keeps missing them but yet has to annoy me by banging on the door every feckin day.

6 flats? sounds a big house.

Nothingbetter2d · 01-04-2011 07:04AM

sunnyday2012 wrote: »

6 flats? sounds a big house.

its a georgian house on cabra road, phibsborough

epgc3fyqirnbsx · 01-04-2011 07:50AM

dude is just doing his job, he's obliged to make sure everyone receives a form and has to keep calling back until so

dixiefly · 01-04-2011 08:11AM

Give the guy a break! As Slasher says he is only trying to do his job as best he can and you are slagging him off.

Of course if he only appeared once and didnt give a sh*t you would be pointing out that he is useless and that the census wouldnt be worth a damn as a result.

conorhal · 01-04-2011 08:36AM

I missed my enumerator a couple of times because I can work odd hours. The thing is, if you miss him he puts a note in the door indicating the next two times he will be around and a contact mobile number to arrange to deliver the form when it suits the occupant if you are not available at those times (which are usually during the evening).

It's not that hard to arrange to get it delivered at a time that suits you. So I can only conclude that whoever occupies that flat is a thoughtless arse deliberately making life difficult for a guy only trying to do his job.

Census guy should leave it with the local Domino's and have them sneak it into a pizza delivery!

thebullkf · 01-04-2011 08:45AM

Oh_Noes wrote: »

The guy appears to be on a stakeout. I live in an urban area and there are a lot of quite casual residences. No one around really cares for the census (including myself) so the enumerator has become a bit of a pest in the area.

Every night he's in his car trying to get forms to people who aren't there most of the time, they're at work or otherwise and the last thing they want when they come home is to be quizzed by him. I've been as helpful as I can with him but I do feel sorry for him for having to basically stalk people so that he can be paid. I had to "shoo" him earlier because he was really banging on a neighbouring door of someone that he can't get a hold of but seems determined to do so. He was making such a racket and I thought there was some kind of incident going on.

I remember when these jobs came up, there was massive competition. The enumerators I've experienced in five or six different areas in my town are all people who are "connected" in some way: former teachers, wives of doctors etc.

I've heard a few different explanations of the pay rate. One was that they are paid €2,500 for the whole job, other figures I've seen are that they get €2 per dropoff and €2 per collection and then an administrative fee of some kind. Does anyone have any information on what they're being paid?

It seems like a rotten job and I'm surprised that there was so much initial interest and that the enumerators doing it are already wealthy people.

connected to whom? the CSO? each other?

did you apply for it?

Chap is trying his best, fair balls to him. Tough job depending on your area, i'd say the city centre's a nightmnare.... feckin apartments everywhere...access would be a pain i reckon.

Who says the enumerators are wealthy?

_feedback_ · 01-04-2011 08:46AM

conorhal wrote: »

I missed my enumerator a couple of times because I can work odd hours. The thing is, if you miss him he puts a note in the door indicating the next two times he will be around and a contact mobile number to arrange to deliver the form when it suits the occupant if you are not available at those times (which are usually during the evening).

It's not that hard to arrange to get it delivered at a time that suits you. So I can only conclude that whoever occupies that flat is a thoughtless arse deliberately making life difficult for a guy only trying to do his job.

Census guy should leave it with the local Domino's and have them sneak it into a pizza delivery!

Same as that, I missed them first time round and just dropped a text to let them know what time I'd be back the next day. Not that hard to help them out a little bit, they have a job to do.

Dravokivich · 01-04-2011 08:47AM

mine looked a bit like yer wan sonia o sullivan.

Guill · 01-04-2011 08:50AM

My census enumerator

Wow, you have your own one???

No reccession there!

az2wp0sye65487 · 01-04-2011 08:52AM

Dravokivich wrote: »

mine looked a bit like yer wan sonia o sullivan.

Tasty!

DundalkDuffman · 01-04-2011 08:57AM

Oh_Noes wrote: »

I remember when these jobs came up, there was massive competition. The enumerators I've experienced in five or six different areas in my town are all people who are "connected" in some way: former teachers, wives of doctors etc.

There is one in Dundalk that is also a current HSE full time employee, couldn't believe my eyes. I assumed that anyone doing it would have to be unemployed.

The guy in our area is quite active, putting notes through the door about calling back within a 1 hour timeframe!

Dravokivich · 01-04-2011 09:01AM

DundalkDuffman wrote: »

There is one in Dundalk that is also a current HSE full time employee, couldn't believe my eyes. I assumed that anyone doing it would have to be unemployed.

The guy in our area is quite active, putting notes through the door about calling back within a 1 hour timeframe!

you sure someone that active works for the hse?

:pac:

joe stodge · 01-04-2011 09:09AM

i appiled for the job and made it through to be put on the panel for the job where they explain how much your paid, what hours to do etc.

the total payment for about 6 weeks work is about 2,000 euro.

they also have seemed to have given the job in my area to the local busy body who just loves to know everything about everyone. i'd say she's loving it and for that reason i don't want to tell her anything or fill in the form because they dont come with envelopes or anything to stop her from reading over them while they are stored in her house until they are picked up, thats right she has too keep them in her house in an unsealed box until they are picked up.

snubbleste · 01-04-2011 09:14AM

You can request a privacy envelope from her and post it back to the CSO yourself.
She'll probably get even more nosy about you then..

Cantona's Collars · 01-04-2011 09:36AM

I know a couple of the enumerators in my area,they were unemployed and got the gig,however one of them told me that a local schoolteacher is working as one in the evenings and weekends.The greedy bollix is famous for double-jobbing,he works for haulage firms during his summer holidays also.
There was a census spokesperson on the radio claiming that the unemployed got first preference when it came to these jobs but it seems not.
Anyhow folks just give them a hand,it only takes 2 minutes of your time to answer the questions.

FatherLen · 01-04-2011 09:51AM

i got the census forms delivered by means of wrapped around a brick and thrown through the front window.

Oh_Noes · 01-04-2011 02:30PM

thebullkf wrote: »

connected to whom? the CSO? each other?

did you apply for it?

Chap is trying his best, fair balls to him. Tough job depending on your area, i'd say the city centre's a nightmnare.... feckin apartments everywhere...access would be a pain i reckon.

Who says the enumerators are wealthy?

Connected to the public service, and no, I didn't apply for it.

I already have a job but I probably wouldn't have applied for it simply because I wouldn't like to be calling door to door in any job. I said it seems that they're wealthy because all the ones I've come across are.

I don't understand why people are saying "give the guy a break" etc, I wasn't really critical of him other than to say he was making a lot of noise.

Mike 1972 · 01-04-2011 02:34PM

Mine got posted in my front door with an envelope to send it back.

I really dont see how the set up you have in the Republic is either necessary or practicable.

HellFireClub · 01-04-2011 02:34PM

thebullkf wrote: »

connected to whom? the CSO? each other?

did you apply for it?

Chap is trying his best, fair balls to him. Tough job depending on your area, i'd say the city centre's a nightmnare.... feckin apartments everywhere...access would be a pain i reckon.

Who says the enumerators are wealthy?

It's obvious enough that the public sector are looking after their own in the interview for this job. I went for an interview, it was made obvious to me that you were at a disadvantage if you were not from the public sector, questions like, "have you ever worked in a public sector environment, it's very different from the private sector???"

I swear that the above question was put to me and I didn't know what to say in reply...

OutlawPete · 01-04-2011 02:40PM

I think mine has a private detective following me.

Mayeston · 01-04-2011 02:49PM

im doing work for the census. I promise you that im not wealthy...it's going towards paying off a credit card bill.

All that we've been told to do is hand in the form - get a name and how many males/females in the house. That's it. I might get a number of a person if i can so i can text them when im around the area to collect them. I wont be reading any of the forms...as far as im concerned that's personal!

I call in the evenings and on weekends but not at absurd times. Its awkward getting people sometimes so unfortunately call backs are a necessary part of it.

I dont like to bother people and i know the last thing people want to have is someone bothering them at their door but its the law, we have to do it and i honestly try make it the least amount of hassle i possibly can.

Majority of people i've met were lovely ....so far i've had one lady who was just rude to me but what can you do.

Tommyadams · 01-04-2011 02:50PM

Oh_Noes wrote: »

Does anyone have any information on what they're being paid?

Is this your only question? If so consult the following for more information: www.google.ie

Oh_Noes · 01-04-2011 02:54PM

Tommyadams wrote: »

Is this your only question? If so consult the following for more information: www.google.ie

It's already been answered in the thread. At least you got your dose of smartarsery in though

Knasher · 01-04-2011 03:03PM

Mine just folded it up and stuck it in the door handle. I gather they probably made a number of calls but didn't leave any notice and my door bell doesn't work so they had no way of getting my attention.

Anyway there was a sheet attached to the front with details about when they are planning on picking it up as well as a contact number. I'm think I'm just going to ignore it and post it back to them however I noticed something weird on the extra sheet. It was a pre-typed sheet with spaces to fill in relevant information, there was a space for them to write in their mobile number however the prefix was part of the pretyped part (086). Does the CSO only hire people who use O2 as their provider (or more probably hand out mobiles for the enumerators to use)?

TouchingVirus · 01-04-2011 03:50PM

A sibling of mine is an enumerator who is a student in DCU. They no previous connections to anything public-service related and don't know anybody "in the know". They just applied because I suggested it'd be a nice way to earn a few bob.

Each of them are supposed to do 400 odd houses and get paid for every form they drop off and every form they collect - €3 for each one. There are a lot of places now where houses are vacant, and each vacant house appears to be covered at a lesser rate (€1.50).

It's ****ing ****e work if you ask me - the enumerator might have to call to a house several times over different days at different times in order to get a response which is usually "Fu*k off" in the rougher areas. To figure out a house is vacant requires effort too, and sometimes extra calls before eventually giving up. It's crap work with crap hours (some people only available post 10pm because or work or whatever) and you're treated like crap. I know nobody who got it this year who'll go for it again.

I don't get the big aversion to the census and why people feel the need to tell enumerators where to go, threaten to rip the form up if given it, refuse to take it, refuse to open the door etc. Just grow up, lose the complex and take it, fill it in and pass it back - individuals are not that important, nobody cares about them specifically or what they're up to, it's a national census after all.

Knasher wrote: »

It was a pre-typed sheet with spaces to fill in relevant information, there was a space for them to write in their mobile number however the prefix was part of the pretyped part (086). Does the CSO only hire people who use O2 as their provider (or more probably hand out mobiles for the enumerators to use)?

All census enumerators are given mobile phones and mobile phone numbers to fill in their details. Can you imagine the hassle were they to use their own personal phones?

Fotish · 01-04-2011 07:53PM

joe stodge wrote: »

i appiled for the job and made it through to be put on the panel for the job where they explain how much your paid, what hours to do etc.

the total payment for about 6 weeks work is about 2,000 euro.

they also have seemed to have given the job in my area to the local busy body who just loves to know everything about everyone. i'd say she's loving it and for that reason i don't want to tell her anything or fill in the form because they dont come with envelopes or anything to stop her from reading over them while they are stored in her house until they are picked up, thats right she has too keep them in her house in an unsealed box until they are picked up.

I have filled out the Census form,I am unable to see anything in it that
is worth hiding,maybe I'm missing some pages ?

MyKeyG · 03-04-2011 05:37AM

Howard Green Applause wrote: »

dude is just doing his job, he's obliged to make sure everyone receives a form and has to keep calling back until so

There's doing your job and there's being a pest. My Mother was trying to bring my disabled sister to the doctor the other day. He saw her leave the house and get into the car. He actually stuck his head in the open window and said 'I'm glad I caught you' my mam told him she was in a hurry to the doctor and would have to deal with him another time. He kept ignoring her and continued spouting his speel. In the end my mam started the car and said 'you can leave your head in the door if you want but I HAVE to go'.

Later that night a knock came to the door and I was praying it was Jehovah Witnesses.

x in the city · 03-04-2011 06:01AM

this is a joke

why dont the useless government just send out all this crap into our addresses nation wide

we can have a time span of 3 weeks to fill the bit*h in or else get jailed for 24 months or a fine of 300,000 euro*

simple, no door knocking, no F**K offs, no hassle.

* to get people to actually fill it in of course.!

Oh_Noes · 03-04-2011 06:13AM

* of course!

My census enumerator

Comments