Survey...Dept of Works and Pensions...Warning

Ken68

Had a lady round today, by appointment ,doing a survey for DWP.
Proper credentials, and to random addresses provided by the post office.
Wanted to know more than I thought she ought,savings etc, then asked me to sign so that DWP could update their records.
Told her no, but she then went round the houses saying she could come back if more convenient and best to sign.
Close to harassment. All very hurried, said she had other people to see and so on.
I thought it was an anonymous survey, said so, and she said OK, we'll make it anonymous, as if I was a criminal.
It IS anonymous, don't give them your name.They don't need it.
All answers go into a laptop, and the details can't be deleted by the interviewer, only back at the office.
So take care.

TOBRUK

Is this genuine?? I think I would ring up DWP to ask whether this person was genuine if someone like that came to my door. You hear about so many scams these days, I'm nervous giving any of my details to anyone!
You say she had 'proper credentials' - these days they can make up badges, headed paper etc quite easily.

debsy42

Sounds very very dodgy to me and why would they be coming round on a Bank Holiday doing random "surveys" on addresses given by the PO, would they not have their own records of people they wanted to talk to.

raq

m too, very dodgy. Do a huge check on tuesday when the offices are open. Or maybe let your local police station know of the situation.

CIS

They do do surveys, usualy for the Office of National Statistics but DWP will do them as well.

More Info here:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/frs/
and
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/frs/respondents/index.asp

Ken68

Thank you all....Helen Davies Interviewer No. 6208D6 gave a serial number and took my name and address, so can marry up my details. She worked for the National Centre of Social Research (Family Resources Team.
If that company is being paid by DWP they would have to cough up details, even confidential details gathered when the respondent isn't sure of anonymity.
The form she left says...."You have agreed to pass on your personal details to the DWP.....so as to be added to info they already hold", sign here.... Havn't signed.
Then it goes on to mention HM Revenue and Customs will also get the information, but only for research!!!
It was the casual way she said 'sign this' that got to me.
Assuming the details will be read by DWP and H.M.Revenue anyway, best to not upset anyone. Wish I hadn't complained to "team.frs@dwp.gsi.gov.uk" now.
Nice to know where I can get advice. Thank you.

emg

I've had two letters from them telling me that I have been selected to be involved in this DWP survey and that they will call to arrange a time to visit. I am a bit concerned about it now. It is clearly not anonymous as they know your name and address already and they interview you in person. What kind of things did they ask you? I'm a bit worried about it now.

TOBRUK

Ken68 wrote: »

Thank you all....Helen Davies Interviewer No. 6208D6 gave a serial number and took my name and address, so can marry up my details. She worked for the National Centre of Social Research (Family Resources Team.
If that company is being paid by DWP they would have to cough up details, even confidential details gathered when the respondent isn't sure of anonymity.
The form she left says...."You have agreed to pass on your personal details to the DWP.....so as to be added to info they already hold", sign here.... Havn't signed.
Then it goes on to mention HM Revenue and Customs will also get the information, but only for research!!!
It was the casual way she said 'sign this' that got to me.
Assuming the details will be read by DWP and H.M.Revenue anyway, best to not upset anyone. Wish I hadn't complained to "team.frs@dwp.gsi.gov.uk" now.
Nice to know where I can get advice. Thank you.

I really don't understand why they would do this as they already have personal details, I really would not take part in any survey done this way unless I was certain it was genuine. They say they got addresses from the Post office, as someone else here said, they already have names and addresses on their database - they could take random addresses from there.

I also do not like the idea of a company (who is being paid by DWP) taking personal details and confidential details, it is enough for DWP taking your details - too many people knowing details about you and nothing then confidential at all so it seems.

peter999

Ken68 wrote: »

Had a lady round today, by appointment ,doing a survey for DWP.
Proper credentials, and to random addresses provided by the post office.
Wanted to know more than I thought she ought,savings etc, then asked me to sign so that DWP could update their records.
Told her no, but she then went round the houses saying she could come back if more convenient and best to sign.
Close to harassment. All very hurried, said she had other people to see and so on.
I thought it was an anonymous survey, said so, and she said OK, we'll make it anonymous, as if I was a criminal.
It IS anonymous, don't give them your name.They don't need it.
All answers go into a laptop, and the details can't be deleted by the interviewer, only back at the office.
So take care.

What was the survey for ??
There shouldn't be any problem remaining anonymous.

The data should just be used for the survey analysis & not go to DWP, as you cannot verify what they are submitting.

I would phone to investigate/complain:

National Centre for Social Research
Operations Department Tel: 01277 200 600

Sounds like the woman wanted to reach her targets.

peter999

peter999

emg wrote: »

I've had two letters from them telling me that I have been selected to be involved in this DWP survey and that they will call to arrange a time to visit. I am a bit concerned about it now. It is clearly not anonymous as they know your name and address already and they interview you in person. What kind of things did they ask you? I'm a bit worried about it now.

It's a survey.

If you don't want to take part, don't take part.

National Centre for Social Research do surveys for DWP.
The questions should be general questions about a benefit/service & your circumstances.

The survey should not be about you, but your opinion/experience of a DWP benefit/service.

The answers should be treated in strict confidence.

peter999

AirlieBird

The Family Resources Survey selects a sample of postcodes from the Postcode Address File (PAF). Lets be clear the Post Office have nothing to do with this. The PAF is a publically available list which DWP/NatCen will purchase and select their sample from. The survey collects information on a wide range of information, but primarily incomes and benefits. It is main Government survey for income statistics and is the source from which official Poverty statistics are calculated. Details that will identify you as an individual are removed from the data before it is passed to DWP.

Have a look at NetCen's website for more info on the FRS as well as the link CIS posted earlier