references and rights

[windycity8]

i had two people give me references, one from volunteer work ie the last thing i did and another, an employer. they gave them to an agency who i havent signed up with as i dont have a car to travel to work which could be anywhere with this agency. im wanting to know what my referees said about me, they must be favourable as the agency wanted me to sign up with them. do i have the right to ask the agency for a copy of these references? or to at least get them to read them out over the phone? im in the process of rejiggng my cv and would like to know what has been said about me so i can maybe incorporate ideas from the references of my qualities etc.

[boxtops]

I do find this is a difficult area. What I have taken to doing when I give references is to fill in the form that the enquirer has sent (it's usually a form of some sort these days) but take a copy and if the person asks for a copy I will give it to them. I don't understand, though, why an agency you've not signed up with has taken references for you - unless you have signed up, they do not have permission to seek personal information about you from anyone else.

[windycity8]

just to clarify, i was already signed up with the agency a few years ago but they wanted updated references. they sent me out forms to complete but i never returned them as i no longer had a car to get to places. nb when i first signed up with them the form must have been different as what they were asking of me recently was much more in detail.

[Buenchico]

From the Information Commissioner's Office:
http://www.ico.gov.uk...rences_v1.0_final.pdf

Chris

[boxtops]

That's useful thanks Chris

[windycity8]

so if i phone the agency tomorrow, what should i say, how should i word it? do i tell them why i need info, for my cv?

[windycity8]

not sure they will tell me, what do i say>