this is weird

bonnie_2

earlier on today somebody calling himself a gorvernment statistical inspector knocked on the door asking personnel questions about the man at no 3 did he work, was he married etc etc.we didnt tell him anything as he is algerian and keeps himself to hiself.but is this legal and who do you think the man who knocked on the door is its made me suspicious anyone any ideas.

shrek101

Did he show any ID? not that it matter these days as its easy to fake, and how do you tell what genuine ID or not. Think you were right to not give out personnel info like that.

bonnie_2

he had id but why would you ask a neighbour personnel questions if you were from the government surely it would be on file somewhere.

CIS

They do census like surveys like this. The goverment, contrary to what people think, does not keep complete records of everyones day to day life and needs to collect data for all of the useless stats they provide from time to time.

From the Office National statistics website 'We also employ home-based social survey interviewers.'

Josie_Jump_3

I wouldn't be surprised if in todays climate it was someone checking up on him for 'security' purposes, you never know who's living next door nowadays. But knocking on his neighbours door isn't exactly what you'd call a covert (SP) operation ?!

Stonk

Or maybe someone checking for tax or benefit fraud? The Inland Revenue, for instance, can be quite "devious" in their investigations - they're not just number-crunchers in distant offices; they are out and about checking up on you ...

shrek101

Or DWP checking if there benefits are above board

FriendofDorothy

Good post Shrek101.

Who can honestly say they know what a genuine Gas Elec water etc ID looks like.

I certainly don't, If they showed me at the door I WOULD PROBABLY LET THEM IN

impecunious

A couple of weeks ago, we got a LETTER from the goverment statistic dept saying that we had been chosen for interview. They duly arrived with all the right ID (it LOOKED ok!) but ONLY WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT US! I think you're right in being suspicious - if they wanted knowledge about your neighbour, why not just ask him???????????

robnye

perhaps they where trying to locate a lottery winning ticket holder......

sneekymum

One day last year a man came to the door wanting us to take part in a survey - NOP was the company.

My husband let him in and answered questions for nearly three hours.

I was furious - we work from home - this time was costing money.

Anyway - a week later NOP wrote asking us to fill in a form each month about any gas or electric suppliers that had tried to sell to us - and we'd get a £10 Tesco voucher.

And we did.

And we still send that form back each month and get £10 to spend at Tesco.

I try to be helpful now when people knock at the door.

I'd have told the man all about the Algerian.

I do think it a bit odd that you say "we didnt tell him anything as he is algerian and keeps himself to hiself" as if this somehow means he can't possibly be a potential suicide-bomber....