BRITS are worrying they could be fined up to £1,000 after claiming they haven’t received a code to fill out the Census 2021 survey online.
Others say the code they have been sent isn’t working for them, meaning they can’t access the forms digitally.
? Read our Census 2021 live blog for the latest news, updates and useful tips…
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The census is a questionnaire about your household, covering topics such as who you live with, the type of property you live in and your employment status.
Households in England and Wales are being asked to complete the form on Census Day, which is today, March 21, or “as soon as possible after” to avoid a £1,000 fine.
For the first time, families are being encouraged to fill out the form online and they should’ve received a unique code to access the form digitally.
But some people are taking to Twitter to say their code hasn’t arrived at all.
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You can also fill out a paper version of the Census survey, but this ideally should have been requested in advance of today.
As well as complaints of codes not arriving, some households say they had to wait 40 minutes on the phone to the Census helpline, according to the Daily Mail.
One person tweeted: “I can’t get through to anyone on the phone, we’ve had no letter or anything so how do you expect us to do this form? Not getting fined for nothing.”
Another said: “I haven’t been sent an access code. So I guess I’m going to be fined for not filling in the census when it isn’t my fault?”
A third said: “Tomorrow is Census Day but I haven’t even received my code yet. What should those of us who haven’t got their code yet do?”
A fourth said: “Unable to access the census, the 16 digit code I’ve been sent doesn’t work. I have requested a new code via the phone this also will not let me access the Census. How we supposed to complete this if the site wouldn’t let me?”
Another person tweeted: “Any idea what you’re meant to do when the Census form just keeps telling you your code is invalid, even though you’ve requested and tried three of them so far?”
What to do if you haven’t got your Census code
If you haven’t received your code, you should be able to request a new one through the Census website.
To request a new code, you need to enter your postcode online and confirm your address.
Alternatively, you can call the Census helpline on 0800 141 2021 if calling from England or 0800 169 2021 from Wales.
Getting fined for not filling in the Census is usually a last resort, and penalties would likely not be dished out straight away.
Fines would also likely only be enforced to those who are uncooperative in completing the survey.
If you don’t fill it in, a census officer will contact you over the next few weeks and encourage you to complete it.
If you still don’t return or submit a completed census, then you could be fined.
Just four people received the maximum £1,000 fine during the last census in 2011.
The Census takes place every 10 years to help give an accurate picture of how people live in the UK.
For those in Scotland, its census won’t take place until 2022.
A spokesperson from the Census gov.uk website told The Sun: “Every household should have received their letter inviting them to take part in the digital first census.
“If you haven’t or have misplaced your letter, you can head online and request a new unique access code.”
James Andrews, personal finance expert at money.co.uk, said: “The last thing anyone needs right now is a £1,000 fine landing on their doormat.
“I would urge everyone to ensure that they fill in and submit their census form within the deadline to avoid having to pay a penalty.
“It should only take 10 minutes a person, with another 10 to cover the ‘household’ section.”
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Finance guru Martin Lewis this week reminded Brits to fill out the survey, or risk ending up in “hot water” if they ignore it completely.
Hundreds of landmarks across the country have also been lit up in purple to remind people to fill the form out.
We’ve rounded up what questions are included in the Census 2021 and what ones you don’t need to fill out.
Brits warned about £1,000 fine for not filling in Census 2021 forms as letters start to arrive
