Reference for my ex manager.

[oschilds]

I have recently retired and an employer wrote to me at my place of employment just after I left asking questions about my ex manager with regard to suitability for employment.
The letter was addressed to me and the reply form had my name on it. Probably the person who sent the letter did not realise I was a less senior employee.
I have now been contacted by the potential employer who knew my home phone number and the company I worked for completed the answers on the form and I do not agree with them.
They did not put anything on the form to indicate I had not completed it.
Have my ex employers committed any offence and is there any action I can take?.

[bednobs]

you can tell the new employers it wasn't your response. That's about it as far as i can see

[Postdog]

But just to add, as you did not agree with what they said, for your own sake do not elaborate on why you didn't agree. Reading between the lines it sounds like you would not have given a favourable reference, and where these are concerned it is often better to say nothing than too much.

[HowardKennitby]

I agree with above.
Obviously since you have been contacted by the potential employer they now know you did not provide the reference. Other than factual errors I would just leave it.

[tonywiltshire]

I am surprised another company would have your home telephone number and would contact you at home for a reference. I do not think you will find your ex employer has committed any actionable offence by sending a reference that appeared to come from you when it did not, a reference is given by the employer who take responsibility for what is said, not the person who wrote the reference. If you wish to make it clear you did not give the reference you can write to the other company and say the reference did not come from you, but I would caution against saying any more particularly that you do not agree with the content of the reference.

[oschilds]

Hi Tony

I worked for the company requesting the reference until just over 8 years ago and I got a pension straight away when I had redundancy / early retirement.
I went to the new company and got a lower grade job but combining the salary and the pension I was getting more money in total.
I had to drive 17 miles each way to the old company but the new company was only just over a mile from my home.
I could have walked but I had to use my car in the day.