Desperately need advice on employment issue

CFC

Inamess, you may need to bite the bullet, give 6 weeks notice and arrange to live somewhere else after your notice is up. You might or might not have a job to go to after 6 weeks, but if your job means that to change jobs you will need to relocate anyway, perhaps you can go and stay with a friend or your family while you are waiting to take up a new job.

You might not like to ask your friends, but if you give your notice now, hopefully it won't come to that, because your new job will be lined up ready for you to start in 6 weeks. I would explain to your prospective new employer that your previous employer is an unprofessional organisation, which is one of the reasons you want to leave, and that your references may arrive late. (because to be honest I'm not sure your current employer will bother sending them)

You haven't been stupid by the way, just very unlucky.

floss2

These points may be something you wish to take up with the CAB, but I was under the impression that
a) an employer has to provide a contract within a certain period
b) an employer cannot now refuse to give a reference - however it may only confirm the dates that you have worked for them & not much else
c) an employer cannot withold wages without a very good reason, which I think must be put in writing.