Bad Refs

[contractorcontractor]

Did you ask the person if you could use them first? If so, I'm thinking that you had a decent enough relationship with them to think about using them. If this is the case then phone them and ask.
HTH

Yep, he offered references but gave bad ones, ie, a lie.

Its not really important now as I've moved on. The references werent so important as the work stood up for itself.

The questions was, has anyone really sued? Or is it a myth?

[ratewhore]

I did hear it is illegal to offer a bad reference but not to offer no reference.

Phone the CAB and ask them and if it's true - sue em til their nuts pop...

[andy]

my ex-manager has told me he will give a bad reference if i give his name for reference, since i didn't give sufficient notice while leaving my crap permi job.
can he do that?
I am thinking of giving my other mobile number and speak as a female when agent calls me.will that work ?

[Spartacus]

It is a common misconception that the giving of a bad reference is in itself illegal. It is not. He can do it, but there is a possibility that it might be libel and you could then sue if you can demonstrate subsequent loss resulted from the libellous reference or that your character has been so smeared that people are likely to shun you (i.e. refuse to give you a job).

Also bear in mind that under English law a statement cannot be libellous if it is true, so be very sure you aren't actually a good-for-nothing tulipebag before going down that road and ending up with a large legal bill.

[Pondlife]

my ex-manager has told me he will give a bad reference if i give his name for reference, since i didn't give sufficient notice while leaving my crap permi job.
can he do that?
I am thinking of giving my other mobile number and speak as a female when agent calls me.will that work ?

People can't make defamatory comments about you without providing evidence otherwise it's libel or slander - although slander may be difficult to prove. They can refuse to comment though.

Not sure the falsetto voice will help to be honest.

[The Lone Gunman]

my ex-manager has told me he will give a bad reference if i give his name for reference, since i didn't give sufficient notice while leaving my crap permi job.
can he do that?
I am thinking of giving my other mobile number and speak as a female when agent calls me.will that work ?

Warn any client that your previous employer has said this. Explain why you left. Ask them for a copy of the ref.
If it is in any way untrue then you are quids in.

[Spartacus]

People can't make defamatory comments about you without providing evidence otherwise it's libel or slander - although slander may be difficult to prove. They can refuse to comment though.

Not sure the falsetto voice will help to be honest.

English justice doesn't work like that, Pondlife. In a libel case the libellor is the accused and it is up to the libellee to prove it is libellous, not for the libellor to prove it isn't.

Innocent until proven guilty and all that (until the next criminal justice bill from New Labour, that is).

Best bet in these situations is to tell the interviewer your previous company has a "no references" policy. Either that or get a mate to act as your referee.

[Numptycorner]

I have had a couple of explanations which dont add up, arrogance, overpay, lack of standards. I have no explanation for it. The work I delivered was blindingly good.

Oh and top marks to Sparticus for the tenuous New Labour link

[andy]

I had a notice period of 2 months and since i was not getting any contract with that much notice i just called my manager , made up some excuse and buggered off

[Spartacus]

Oh and top marks to Sparticus for the tenuous New Labour link

Quite right. Too much hand-wringing about war in Lebanon, gay weddings and posters with multiple nicks today, and not nearly enough New Labour bashing.