ICT Survey - Mandatory?

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networkn

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# 108028 23-Aug-2012 15:40

I just got a package from Statistics NZ which states I must fill in this booklet which contains requests for information such as revenues broken into categories? Says it's mandatory, but I am wondering where the evidence that I am required to provide these people information about my business that I don't care to share.

I am wondering if I can avoid this somehow and what the penalty is for not complying.

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# 675984 23-Aug-2012 15:44

It doesn't say what the penalty is for not complying?

johnr

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# 675985 23-Aug-2012 15:45

I would send it back with two words written on the front!

RedJungle

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# 675987 23-Aug-2012 15:46

We got this too.. it's quite obnoxious.

Red Jungle: we make fantastic software

johnr

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# 675988 23-Aug-2012 15:49

Take it to the media!

networkn

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# 675991 23-Aug-2012 15:51

I'm gonna ignore it. See what happens. According to Wikipedia fines rarely exceed $500 , I think it would take me more than that to accurately fill it out, and honestly I'd pay that to keep my private information private (Not that I have anything to hide).

John2010

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# 675994 23-Aug-2012 15:57

It is mandatory - Statistics Act.

Fine for corporate is $2,000 as far as I know, certainly more than that for a private individual which is the $500 you mention. Both on summary conviction so you're guilty unless you go to court and prove you're not

.

On the very rare occasion I have got a business one I have completed it - I suspect these are the ones they are likely to follow up.

Only once had a private one from them which was earlier this year. That one I refused to complete and so far have not heard any more.

networkn

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# 675996 23-Aug-2012 15:59

What compels me to complete it? Is it a requirement of being a limited liability company?

SandyJ

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# 675998 23-Aug-2012 16:09

They did the same with us in Oz. We were Pty Ltd as well. Followed us for 2 yrs and made it quite clear we would go to jail if we didnt comply. According to them its the luck of the draw. Im sorry for you... they want to know everything including what time you go to the bathroom each day. :(

johnr

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# 675999 23-Aug-2012 16:10

trespass order should sort them out

networkn

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# 676000 23-Aug-2012 16:11

LOL Good luck with putting me in Jail for failing to provide statistics information when you can scam people out of hundreds of millions in NZ and get home detention.

networkn

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# 676015 23-Aug-2012 16:29

Under what factors impacted your growth ability, I wrote, filling out stupid forms like this one.

Jesus Wept.

johnr

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# 676016 23-Aug-2012 16:31

networkn: LOL Good luck with putting me in Jail for failing to provide statistics information when you can scam people out of hundreds of millions in NZ and get home detention.

And still own a house in the most costly part of NZ with a helicopter

johnr

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# 676017 23-Aug-2012 16:31

networkn: Under what factors impacted your growth ability, I wrote, filling out stupid forms like this one.

Jesus Wept.

Bahahahaha

John2010

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# 676019 23-Aug-2012 16:35

As far as I know you won't go to jail in NZ for not completing it.

But they do have the authority under the Act to enter any place of business and inspect whatever they wish including documents and files, so no point taking out a trespass order against them.

If you are convicted of not completing the survey then as well as the fine you get fined for every day thereafter that you continue to not complete it until you give in - something along those lines anyway, as far as I know it is not just a fine and they go away.
Please do let us know how you get on with them

.

EDIT: Just saw your later post. Put whatever you want in the responses but you commit another misdemeanour if you enter incorrect information.

EDIT: EDIT: Here yer go:

43(2) The conviction of any person of an offence against subsection (1) or against this subsection in relation to his failure to produce any books of account, vouchers, documents, or other business records, or to his neglect or refusal to fill in and supply any particulars required in any such schedules or to answer any such question or inquiry, shall not relieve him of his obligation to supply such books of account, vouchers, documents, or other business records, or to fill in and supply the particulars or to answer the question or inquiry; and if, after the expiration of 14 days from the date of the conviction, he still has failed to produce the books of account, vouchers, documents, or other business records lawfully requested, or he continues to neglect or refuse to fill in and supply the particulars or to answer the question or inquiry, he commits a further offence and is liable on summary conviction in respect of each day after the expiration of those 14 days to a fine not exceeding $20 or, in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $80

garethbezett

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# 676022 23-Aug-2012 16:45

To the best of my knowledge the Government Statistician (or whatever the head of Stats is called) has to power to compel people (individuals, companies, etc) to provide data e.g. the census (there's always someone in the news trying to avoid the census).

Based on my own experiences and some guess work I believe the surveys you get depend on the four-digit code that describes the type of business you are in when you register for GST. I registered my company with a fairly obscure code so I've never been asked for data however the last time I worked for a small IT company, they got lots of surveys about the IT industry. I could be wrong, but I don't know how else Stats would know who to survey.

I'm sure someone on Geekzone works for Stats and they may like to tell us.

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