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AIBU?

To wonder if I should take this further

25 replies

bessieintheattic · 07/12/2017 22:12

I gave up full time work this summer and signed up with two employment agencies, hoping for a better work life balance. Both were keen to have me on their books and assured me of work to come in the near future.

While I got work from one I did not from the other. I rang up a couple of times to politely query matters and was finally told in late October there was a problem with one of my references they could not disclose. It was unsettling, and I was annoyed I had paid £50 to them but decided to chalk it up as a bad experience.

However, I saw the woman who interviewed me on social media and had a look at her profile and noted disparaging comments about me!

Should I do anything or is it best left?

OP posts:

Report

RebornSlippy · 07/12/2017 22:14

Huh? She made comments about you which were publicly visible? What kind of comments? About your appearance or your skills? Sorry, I'm a bit confused about this.

bessieintheattic · 07/12/2017 22:16

Neither, really. Along the lines of “OMG sick of knobheads banging on at me about work”. In fairness, I wasn’t named, I just feel aggrieved with them generally for lying to me and I suppose this is the icing on the cake.

OP posts:

MadMags · 07/12/2017 22:18

Stating the obvious but it could have been about anyone!

RebornSlippy · 07/12/2017 22:19

So an employment agency employee went on social media complaining about people asking her about jobs?! Weird.

Nothing to say it's you she's talking about, OP. It could one of the many 'knobheads' who are clients.

Is she an employee or an owner of the company? Either way, I'd never go to them for a job again. Very unprofessional.

bessieintheattic · 07/12/2017 22:20

It wasn’t about anyone though, was it? Even if we say you are correct and it clearly wasn’t about me ( back at you ) it was about someone like me, and inappropriate as such,

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whyismykid · 07/12/2017 22:21

Errrrr - why did you pay the agency money?
15 years working in recruitment and it's totally illegal for them to charge you. What was the £50 for?

saladdays66 · 07/12/2017 22:22

Completely inappropriate. I'd leave them and never look for work with them again.

MadMags · 07/12/2017 22:23

Wow. Are you usually this - erm - sensitive??

To answer your question, it’s best left.

bessieintheattic · 07/12/2017 22:23

DBS check

Unfortunately I can’t really “leave” as they have told me they “cannot take my application further” due to this supposed problem with my reference, which is a lie, but it is annoying me more than it should!

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Celticlassie · 07/12/2017 22:30

I would take it further. It's her job to get people employment so for her to be publicly bitching about those who have the audacity to ask her to do her job is, at best, bloody stupid. She's unlikely to lose her job, but may well get a warning about how to use social media.

Simmy10 · 07/12/2017 22:31

I thought a dbs check was carried out once you are offered employment and the employer pays? I had to have a dbs before I started at a company but I didn't pay, the employer did

bessieintheattic · 07/12/2017 22:34

Depends what you do, simmy

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LolaTheDarkdestroyer · 07/12/2017 22:35

How did you see her social media? She sounds a dick but doubt anyone will do anything, also I would want to know who and why gave me a shitty ref or if it's a lie why lie?

Caulk · 07/12/2017 22:36

Never had an experience like that with a DBS check.

Offer a different referee? Get portability (can’t remember what it’s called now) on your DBS and move to another agency with the DBS.

GerardNoWay · 07/12/2017 22:39

Not on for her to post about any client on social media. I would complain and ask them to take you off their books. I wouldn't want to be represented by such an unprofessional company.

Also, you can sign up to the Update service within 14 days of receiving your certificate. It's £13 per year and stays 'live' so new employers can see if it has stayed the same since your last certificate. A good idea if you are going to be temping.

greendale17 · 07/12/2017 22:41

Not on for her to post about any client on social media. I would complain and ask them to take you off their books. I wouldn't want to be represented by such an unprofessional company.

^I agree

PopGoesTheWeaz · 07/12/2017 22:47

I think if you have paid for a dbs you may have a right to see the reference. www.gov.uk/work-reference

GerardNoWay · 07/12/2017 22:50

It doesn't sound to me that there was a problem with your references, considering the other agency had no problems. I presume you gave the same reference details?

It wouldn't surprise me if they've written you off, or have no work for you, and they are using references as an excuse. Perhaps they can't be arsed to chase one up that they haven't been able to get?

Grunkalunka · 07/12/2017 22:59

They probably have no work but took the £50 from you anyway. They don't want to admit they have no work so blamed the references instead. A bit silly as you might know your referees well enough to check. What was the £50 for? sounds dodgy (was it for the DBS?)

CeciliaBartolli · 07/12/2017 23:03

but but but.... you don't pay money to employment agencies any more...and if there was a problem with your references they would just bloody tell you and not darkly hint.How come you can see her highly unprofessional non-agenty FB page? Have you friended the agent? LOL
Quelle cobblers.

bessieintheattic · 08/12/2017 07:38

She came up on Facebook as a person I might know. I presume because I’ve emailed her.

I think there wasn’t any work and rather than be honest with me, they decided to lie.

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Madwoman5 · 08/12/2017 08:12

I would contact the head honcho and explain that in order to do the best you can in the future you need to know of anything that may block this and your contact was not terribly helpful. Could they personally check your file and offer any advice they have that will help you move forward. If this is true then they will mention the reference, you can genuinely sound perplexed about it. Then you mention that as most companies have a social media policy, you may want to check x persons facebook page as she really doesn't seem awfully happy in her job. After all, if you were in their position, you would not want potential employers to read that sort of thing. Smile whilst speaking, thank them for their help and hang up.

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Allthecoolkids · 08/12/2017 08:19

Did you use the same referees for the other agency?

TiredBefuddledRose · 08/12/2017 17:36

Who did you pay the £50 to and have you received a copy of the dbs yet?

bessieintheattic · 08/12/2017 17:58

I did receive a copy of the DBS, yes, way back in August/September.

There was no issue with my reference, I knew this wasn’t true.

OP posts:

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