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    Thank you for your answer! I did take this advice annd queried the reason for the factual inaccurate reference with the employer and was ignored. The employer instead went back to the recruiter telling us both the matter was closed in a particularly cold email, which seemed out of character from the person I interviewed with. As I am in the UK, I have requested a Subject Access Request. I understand I still might not know more after this, but as I might also have to request a reference in the future from this same reference, I would like to know more, if possible! Commented Feb 23, 2025 at 17:29
  • @amartin222, In the US, employment lawyers will hire third party reference checkers to check if a reference is good or not. You may want to do the same yourself, hire a third party reference checker. If the reference they receive is bad, or just lukewarm (which is not good either), then you know to stop using that reference. Also, check your other references as well, if the company left multiple messages with them, and no one called back, then it's a potential red flag as well. Commented Feb 23, 2025 at 19:27
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    @amartin222 Respectfully, I think you might be going a bit far on this. I mean, making an SAR? It's a little overboard IMO, you aren't getting this job and I'm not sure putting your energy here is worth it. Commented Feb 25, 2025 at 17:48
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    @motosubatsu The purpose of the SAR would presumably be to determine how things went sideways, to ensure that the same thing didn't happen next time. I'm not sure if it's the strategy I would use, but it doesn't strike me as an unreasonable use of their "energy". Commented Feb 26, 2025 at 10:20
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    As @Sneftel has said, it’s to identify what went wrong, and whether the referee actually gave me a reference that could be deemed positive - if so, I can use them again. If not, it gives me clarity and means I wouldn’t use them anymore. Additionally if they gave me a positive reference, than the potential employer has not been truthful in their reasons to not employ me (as my offer letter said hiring on receipt of satisfactory references). I probably won’t take it any further, but for me, knowing provides me clarity - so is not a waste of energy. Commented Feb 26, 2025 at 18:45