Employer charging a fee to provide a mortgage reference

quirkycobra

Hi

My wife's employer is refusing to provide a mortgage application reference unless she pays a £25 fee. Any thoughts on whether this is right/legal? Note, she works for the public sector.

Kind regards.

Thrugelmir

If you employ a lot of people and therefore somebody is required in HR to fulfill such tasks. Then somebody has to bear the cost of providing the service.

opinions4u

Is it right? No.

Is it legal? Yes.

Goldiegirl

Perhaps you could ask the lender if they'll accept payslips and a P60?

thequant

Thrugelmir wrote: »

If you employ a lot of people and therefore somebody is required in HR to fulfill such tasks. Then somebody has to bear the cost of providing the service.

What next charging people for a reference when they move Jobs ?

bryanb

thequant wrote: »

What next charging people for a reference when they move Jobs ?

See post 2

ValHaller

quirkycobra wrote: »

Hi

My wife's employer is refusing to provide a mortgage application reference unless she pays a £25 fee. Any thoughts on whether this is right/legal? Note, she works for the public sector.

Kind regards.

It might be legal, but by jiminy it is disgusting. Absolutely contemptible. It is one of those things you can make them pay back 50p a time when you refuse to stay on. "You want me to stay on? You can't even give me a mortgage reference except you charge £25."

It really does set workplace relations on the wrong footing. I suppose this mob have some deceitful little 'Statement of Values' which says something like 'We value our employees'

kingstreet

Will a reference be needed?

Many lenders try to work without one. If you can supply three months payslips and P60 you should be able to avoid it.

TBH chasing up the damn things is the bane of my life. Why is no-one capable of completing a form as they are requested? :mad:

Thrugelmir

ValHaller wrote: »

It really does set workplace relations on the wrong footing. I suppose this mob have some deceitful little 'Statement of Values' which says something like 'We value our employees'

Public sector is having to cut costs / generate income where ever possible. Only fair that people pay for what they use.

I did have a thought that the HR/Payroll might be outsourced.

zzzLazyDaisy

The employer could always refuse. Apart from a few specific professions an employer is not under any legal obligation to give a reference at all - whether to a lender, or to a prospective new employer.

ValHaller

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Public sector is having to cut costs / generate income where ever possible. Only fair that people pay for what they use.

I did have a thought that the HR/Payroll might be outsourced.

Come off it. This is a basic part of the employment relationship. It is a favour. Favours are not sold to employees - or if they are, then who can complain if employees sell favours to employers. In any decent employment relationship, there is more at stake than a petty jobsworth £25 in both directions. The idea is corrosive.