An agency which prepares what appear to be false American private rental sector references has contacted Letting Agent Today raising the fear that it may be used in the UK too.
A spam-style email purporting to come from www.thereferencestore.com alerted LAT to the site's existence. The site refers to itself as the world's leading virtual reference service and it provides a range of services' including what it calls misinformation' in the form of employment and accommodation references, amongst others.
Although worded to appeal primarily to a US audience, the site also uses the Union Flag in its masthead and includes a London phone number amongst its contacts: when LAT has called the number, a recorded message says the person being contacted is unavailable.
The site also states in its FAQ section (just below the statement saying the services are perfectly legal and that misinformation on a resume isn't a crime) that it helps people from the UK amongst other countries outside of the United States.
In a section dedicated to accommodation references, it includes these two paragraphs suggesting it offers a telephone as well as written service to would-be tenants who want to have a reference:
A less than desirable past rental history will more than likely disqualify you from renting or leasing a house or apartment. Without a positive landlord reference it could take many years until you will find anyone that is willing to let you put your name on a residential lease.
Using our leasing and real estate company we will act as a previous landlord of yours and even provide you with a signed lease with all necessary information for documentation purposes. When someone does call to verify your past rental history with us we will give nothing but a glowing and positive reference.
Buried within the site there are forms which applicants have to complete, including options to send photographs and personal details, apparently for use to help authenticate the reference being created.
There are few indications on the site as to the location of the company behind it, although it may be based in Wyoming.
LAT is keen to do follow-up stories on this subject so if anyone has experience of this website or its services, please let us know on: press@lettingagenttoday.co.uk
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