Office National Statistics home visits

longwalks1

Bit of a random question, and hope it’s in the correct sub-category.

has anyone had a couple of surveys come through in the post in the last 2 weeks from the Office of National Statistics recently?   

We haven’t filled them in, and was a little unsure why we were ‘selected’. 

Since then we’ve had a lady in high vis come to our address in person, twice, who was quite insistent that we filled it in. 

 

We said it wasn’t mandatory but she said, twice, that her number was on the survey and she wanted to make an appointment to come in and discuss it, to which we politely declined.  We live in a small village and she was an older lady on a pushbike, but it still didn’t feel right. 

She then went on to comment the number of cars we have on our driveway (3 cars, mine, my partners and one we use at weekends) and said ‘ooh there must be 3 of you living here’ which was an incorrect assumption.

Just wondered if anyone else has been selected for this survey or had the multiple home visits?

thank you all in advance 

longwalks1

Anyone?    

DaffyDuck20

I had them at two previous addresses, one was to do with crime in the area and how safe i felt, the other was during covid where you did a test monthly. 

They always sent a text message first to arrange convenient time.

marcia_

I've taken part in ONS research, one for the duration of covid and a while after. Taking covid tests and filling in a questionnaire. I was paid for this.

 Another about health insights that require a brief medical then monthly questionnaire sent by email

 They just take information from the electoral register and request you join their study.

longwalks1

Thanks both.  

Im guessing it’s legitimate and I don’t have a problem with it, it’s just the lady who came to our home twice (the first time she was sat outside our driveway on her bicycle as I put the bins out, she saw me and didn’t say anything, just watched), the 2nd time she spoke to my partner and seemed a little surprised that my partner lived here (no idea why, we are both on the electoral register).  

Then the comment regarding 3 cars on the driveway must indicate 3 people living at this address.  She was an elderly lady so it didn’t feel uneasy, it’s just her persistence that we don’t understand.

thank you both for your replies 

Grumpy_chap

I was asked to participate in an ONS survey on one occasion - I had to keep a record of everything purchased over a period of time, with quite exact details, and the price paid.  The data then fed into the inflation basket of goods and quarterly inflation figures.  That did involve in-person visits.