Ok, i phoned up the independent living centre to get Lynne's e-mail address and was informed that she didn't have one - a complete lie as John has been e-mailing her for weeks - the poor woman on the phone is also a very bad lier. Anyway i was told that i would have to send the e-mail via Lynne's line manager so that she could pass it on, in other words for her line manager to have a nose at and decide if Lynne can sign it. I am only glad i was nice and didn't sl*g her line manager off.
I've done as one of you suggested and really laid it on thick, saying how depressed and frustrated my hubby is getting because the reference is the last piece of documentation we need to submit the TRA.
In the mean time Lynne phoned me and has said that her line-manager will probably say no anyway- i think she's a bit of a bit*h who likes playing god. I did ask Lynne if i could send it to her home address but she wasn't keen.
All i can do now is sit and wait for a reply, although Lynne did say that they probably won't even have the decency to reply which means i will have only a verbal refusal . I am trying to get a written refusal.
Oh well i suppose England isn't that bad a place to live. I could be in a worse country than this one.
Thanks for all your replies
Jackie

Oh No !- don't give up Jackie I can imagine how desparate you must feel - I wouldn't give up on ringing the boss, sending recorded delivery letter etc.,
hoping it all sorts itself out for you , you may get a lucky break.
angelaxx

Only a suggestion but if all else fails why dont you simply phone up the line manager who is creating the block and say that since they are not being helpful you would like the company secretary name, the registered office address and company number. The explain what you intend to do if they refuse to assist you (below) and you will of course like the names of the Directors to make a formal complaint about them as well.

You would then send a letter, but recorded delivery which would run something alond the lines of :

Dear Sir or Madam

Please send me all the information concerning my previous enmployment which I am entitled to under the Section 7(1) of the Data Protection 1998.

If you need further information from me, or a fee (within statutory limits), please let me know within 7 days and I shall be pleased to settle this by return.

If you do not normally handle these requests for your organisation, please pass this letter to your Data Protection Officer or another appropriate official.

Yours faithfully


Of course I would only suggest this as a last resort as it really gets up peoples noses but if you dont have any other recourse then why not I guess. Only do this however if you think the company has any records about you on computer or paper. If they do then they are obliged to hand it over.

Here is a link to your rights on the matter. http://www.ico.gov.uk/documentUpload...rce%20Them.pdf

Utimately its a lot easier for the company concerned to simply supply a reference. Or there is the age old method of just going to the offices and refusing to leave until someone gives it to you

That's the problem, John has never worked for this company only with Lynne at another company, thats why they are saying no. I do think however that as John worked with Lynne before she worked at this company, that is none of their business who she gives a reference to. Also they are threatening her with disciplinary action if they find out that she has signed it. Thats why she is reluctant to go ahead with it as it is her career that will suffer if they find out. I have contacted the company they both worked for and they have destroyed all the records from that period.Thanks for the idea though
Jackie

so, why cant she write the letter herself. it cant be on headed paper, because neither of them work there. if she was his manager/co-worker at another company, it has got f**k all to to do with the company she is working for now. what is this other company's problem? what have they got to lose (or gain?) by her writing (or putting a signature to a letter that you have done?) this document, confirming that she worked with your hubbie? WTF!!!

i am getting annoyed now, let alone you!

DIMA wouldnt contact her current employers, because it is eff all to do with them. if anyone, they would contact her, by the details she gives them on the letter.


....and (sorry, just had to add this on) what could they do to her if she did write/sign this letter? it is personal, nothing to do with them at all.

DIMA wouldn't contact her current employers, because it is eff all to do with them. if anyone, they would contact her, by the details she gives them on the letter.


....and (sorry, just had to add this on) what could they do to her if she did write/sign this letter? it is personal, nothing to do with them at all.[/QUOTE]

That's what i said to her, Hubby explained that because she is deaf, there is a certain deaf culture.(don't quote me on this) She will not go against her line managers wishes no matter how much she might like to. I sort of understand where she is coming from and i understand her values and beliefs but that doesn't help us with regard to the reference

That's what i said to her, Hubby explained that because she is deaf, there is a certain deaf culture.(don't quote me on this) She will not go against her line managers wishes no matter how much she might like to. I sort of understand where she is coming from and i understand her values and beliefs but that doesn't help us with regard to the reference[/QUOTE]

why dont you write to the owner of the company, explaining what it is you require, explaining that there is absolutely no come back to them, and it is just clarification you require from somebody that used to work with your hubbie. make it a begging letter if you will, like i did. go to the top of the company as much as you can, then no snot nosed line manager can say no. even though she doesnt damn well need their authorisation. if this is stopping her write the letter, she must be petrified that they are going to fire her over it, although a case of unfair dismissal springs to mind.

Just an update if anyone's interested

Sent line manager an e-mail this morning ,it was a bit sarcastic but i got a response. It turns out the "line manager" is not a line manager and has no idea what i'm going on about. She didn't even know we had asked Lynne for a reference and is not in a position to stop Lynne writing the reference.
Also had an e-mail from Lynne herself and it goes like this.

it is my decision not to sign the reference for john, as i do not wish to be involved in being a referee. I have sort advice from the legal department and have been informed that strictly speaking i am not the right person to approach for this type of reference.
i understand that John would like to emigrate to Australia but i do not wish to be involved in this as again i do not feel i am the right person to give him a working reference and i am not happy about the way you have approached my colleagues and friends

Well why didn't she say that in the first place in stead of letting us wait 6 weeks for nothing
On a happier note i spoke to another member of staff who also worked with John - had to track him down first - who said he would be happy to do this favor for John and that he would be able to put it on letter headed paper. I have e-mailed it over to him and he said he would look at it and sign it when he gets home, ring John and post it back to us before Friday. I won't count my chickens just yet, but i am quietly confident at the moment.
Also, i had a look in the loft and although i didn't find any thing that relates to the deaf centre i did find a whole stash of wage slips, p60's and even a letter of employment for Birmingham City Council who are the other company we were having problems with.

That sounds more positive...the new referee...good luck with it, and that other woman...well what goes around comes around quite simply!
sending you soothing karma.xxx

she got completly the wrong idea of what is required of her, hasnt she? i think some people are petrified on what it entails and the legalities of the letter.

oh well, at least you know now. fingers crossed for this other guy, he sounds a bit more positive. and other stuff in the loft as well? things may be looking up for you

keep us informed please.
xx

Thanks for the karma, keep every thing crossed for us
i will of course update you all
Jackie

Brilliant, I'm glad things are back on track for you. It must be a huge relief.

It will be when that reference is in my hand, but i am starting to feel more positve now.

Hi Jackie,

Fingers crossed for you Things certainly seem more hopeful now

N

Sounds like a nightmare - my heart goes out to you.

I used stat decs for my application to the Australian Computer society, since I couldn't get references from my previous employers (they'd all gone bust) and I couldn't tell my current employer I was thinking of leaving.

It said something like "i can't get references because..."

I also included some recent wage slips to prove I was working where I said I was.

And they accepted it.

I know your trade is different, but if all else fails the stat dec way is worth a try. Worst case? gather everything you can lay your hands on and see if your agent can get them to accept what paperwork you have.

Best of luck, let us know how it works out!