To not go to the job interview because they accused me of lying

[Rabbitsea]

I had a job interview booked recently, the day before my grandma passed away. I was really close to her and i would not have been great in the interview the next day.

I emailed and called prior explaining what had happened and if possible i would like to rearrange, they agreed all was fine. Rearranged for this Wednesday, but I got a call today saying, sorry to hear about your mother in law. I said it wasn’t my mother in law it was my grandma.

5 minutes later i got a call from the woman saying i’m sure you said it was your mother in law, you said you have to support your partner. I said no it’s my grandmother i don’t even had a partner. She replied and said no you said mother in law, we have recorded calls and if we listen back and you said mother in law the interview would be off the table.

At this point i was quite irritated and I felt upset that she would imply i would lie about losing my grandma. She ended the call saying will I actually turn up to the interview if all is okay? I feel like its not a good start to begin with

This

This is what I would do, I absolutely detest being called a liar, and it would forever annoy me otherwise. That said I wouldn't accept the job though

Why is everyone assuming they really have a recording of the previous call?

It smacks of trying to call your bluff - that the recruiter thinks you made up a bereavement so you could postpone the interview, and crassly then tried to catch you out. But even if they think you are lying, I agree with many others here that they've handled it in a completely inappropriate way.

Tell them to stick their job up their arse.

So sorry for your loss x

Change that last bit to "you are not the employer for me" and that's perfect.

That's shocking behaviour. I am really sorry for your loss.

What a bizarre thing for her to do! Weirdo. I’d genuinely do what a pp said, take the order of service.

Honestly I think I’d send a really honest and sincere email, ideally to this person’s manager if you know who they are.

I’d say that, having thought it over, you won’t be attending the interview. That you feel extremely hurt and insulted that on top of grieving the loss of a very significant person in your life, you’ve essentially been accused of lying and fabricating a story. Not only is it extremely unprofessional but it’s just really unkind for this woman to be openly doubting you when she apparently has access to the means to verify what you said, she just can’t be bothered. Hopefully she will check, realise how wrong she is, and reflect on the way she treats people in the future. This is not the kind of person you want to work for; you’ve massively dodged a bullet.

If that was someone senior in the company I would ask to hear the tapes.

Do they really record all their calls?

Without telling you?

That's illegal isn't it?

Or was she lying?

Either way I wouldn't want to work for her.

If it was a PA I might not be so concerned about the company culture, but that PA's cards would be marked with me if I did go to work there and I wouldn't want her anywhere near my department.

I would ask for a copy of the recording. And I would attend the interview. (It's not necessary to hear the recording first, but you should make it clear that you have been told there is one.)

There is a real risk here of confusing the actions of one poorly performing cunt employee with the company environment. As another poster has already pointed out, said cunt employee may have her own reasons for wanting to put you off. The only way you can be sure that the company knows what went on is to tell them face to face - that employee may well have the ability to filter emails.

If you can play it cool enough, the time to tell them about the appalling behaviour of the company (because however disaffected this cunt was, she represents the company) is at the end of a brilliant interview, when you are asked for questions. I would love to be a fly on the wall....

If I was the interviewing company and we did record all calls I would certainly check first before accusing anyone of anything.

And I certainly wouldn't lie that we record calls if we didn't.

Shambolic

PS And consider reporting them for breach of GDPR for recording the call.

This is a red flag. There is something wrong in this organisation.

Ask them to bring the recording to the interview so you can show them up face to face.
Failing that, lodge an SAR for the call recording then take it higher - what an appalling situation.

I would send one of the emails above to the CEO and would not go to interview as a) I wouldn’t want to work somewhere who treats employees like that b) sounds like you’ve already been judged and wouldn’t get it so why waste your time?

Get your complaint in now before they’ve turned you down

I would attend simply for the quality trolling you could do here.

“Do you have any other questions” part at the end where I would have 101 questions, all designed to waste as much of their time as possible. Some I’d ask twice and question why they had lied the first time.

I realise this is peak petty, but I’d be happy to spend an hour or so winding these bastards up. You hold all the cards.

Don't they need to tell you when a call is being recorded? I would most definitely complain and very politely tell them to shove their interview. Honestly I wouldn't waste my time attending. Can you imagine working there and calling in sick or having a family emergency?

@Youdoyoubabe

It is a bit rude but to be honest most employers wouldn’t progress an application with someone who couldn’t interview due to extended family death. It is sad but people die all the time and work has to continue.

Load of utter shite. NO employer would reject a potential employee because they postponed their interview because of a FAMILY DEATH.

Sadly if you are interviewing for a call centre this is indicative of the abuse and calibre of some of the people there.
Some of them, not all, but like others have said, it shows you what this person is like.
And its very unprofessional, but I’ve witnessed it.
It should not be allowed, and people are treated very poorly indeed.

My friend's 27 y.o. DD postponed an interview last year when her cat got sick. Had it 3 days later instead. Got the job.

I'd go and ask them to listen to the recording of the initial call as well as the recording if the woman. Once listened to, I'd say I didn't want the application to go any further on the basis of the poor treatment by that ghastly woman.

Sorry for your loss OP xx

I'm another one saying you should flag this with someone higher up in the organisation - decent hiring managers would want to know that they are losing candidates because of this woman's rude and unprofessional behaviour.

Was just coming to say as a hiring manager that I would absolutely reschedule if I could. No one is going to interview well the day after finding out about the death of someone they care about and that person could be the asset I'm looking for. I want to give people every chance possible to interview well so I hire the best people.

She probably mixed you up with someone else. She is just one person and doesn’t reflect the whole company, I’d go for the interview and give it 100%.
then see how you feel then.

all the best

Was this someone youd be working with

id ask to hear the recording-shes ou9t of order accusing you

I’d not want to work for them so not go

but, I’d also write a firm letter as a complaint . I’d state what I’d said at time,, try to recall exact words, but put east dates and times you spoke. And when you were informed. Then state exactly what this women said, what day, time. If you can quote word for word , do so, if you can’t don’t use quotes but state you “heard her say words equivlent to” or something like. Then clearly state she is making a “libellous statement” by slandering and defaming you, in what she is saying. Use these words as this is a civil law term and will make them sit up and take note. State she must not repeat the defamation and redact it form any documentation .or you will take civil action. Then say, based on that you are withdrawing your application while this matter remains an open complaint . Also tell them to remove all your details immediately from any systems or files held by HR for purposes of applications or interviewing, and that after any further correspondence on this matter, your detials must be removed immediately form any data bases or files, as per GDPR . You don’t want ths5 person passing on their claims to anyone else.

Find the CEO or director of company and send straight to them (companies house is a good place to look if you don’t have this info). Mark it for “the attention of name” and send recorded so you know they’ll get it.

dont ask for a response, or apology, just inform them and let them know they’re potentially setting themselves up for legal civil action. It could well be this person is acting out of line for any number of reasons (even mental health conditions) so it is right to tell them. Plus you’ve then made your point, in writing, formally and it will be easier to let go of. If they ever repeat it you’ll have evidence that you gave them warning