What happens if a referee doesn't reply?
RefAssure chases for you by email and text, flags bounced addresses, and tells you when it is time to add another referee.
What happens if a referee does not reply to a reference request?
With RefAssure, chasing references is automatic. The referee gets 5 emails and up to 2 texts over 12 days, and reminders stop the moment they submit. If an address bounces, it is flagged, usually within minutes. After day 12 you are told, so you can add another referee. In October 2026, 4 in 10 completed references arrived after an automatic reminder.
Chasing references, day by day.
5 emails and up to 2 texts over 12 days, stopping the moment the referee replies.
When things go wrong, you know.
The address bounces
Most bounced requests are flagged within minutes. Reminders stop for that address, and you can resend or add another referee.
The referee replies by email
Some referees reply to the email instead of using the form. The reply is captured, saved against the candidate and forwarded to you, and chasing stops.
The candidate's email is wrong
If the consent email bounces, that is flagged too, so the candidate does not just look unresponsive.
Day 12 passes
You are told, with the full chase history on record, so you can add another referee or pick up the phone.
Nothing lost in a shared inbox.
Every request, reminder, bounce and reply is logged against the candidate, so you can see where each reference stands at a glance.
- Replies by email are saved to the candidate record and forwarded to you
- Automatic out-of-office style replies are recognised, so they are not mistaken for an answer
- Every reminder is timestamped in the PDF audit trail
- Referees use a unique secure link, with no login, on any device
Why do referees not reply?
Silence rarely means a bad reference. The usual reasons are ordinary:
- The request went to an old or mistyped address
- It landed in a junk folder or a busy inbox
- The referee has left the company
- Company policy says HR handles all references
- They would rather reply by email than fill in a form
How to get faster replies
Ask the candidate to let their referees know a request is coming. Collect a work email and a mobile number, since a mobile lets RefAssure send texts as well as emails. For large employers, ask for an HR contact as well as a line manager.
Across 229 completed references in October 2026, the median turnaround on RefAssure was about 23 hours, and half came back within 24 hours. If you need something to send yourself, use our reference request email.
Chasing questions
More in the full FAQs.
How many reminders does a referee get?
The request goes on day 0, with reminder emails on days 2, 5, 8 and 12. If you add a mobile number, there is a text with the request and a second text on day 5. That is 5 emails and up to 2 texts over 12 days.
Does chasing stop when the referee replies?
Yes. Reminders stop the moment the referee submits the reference, and also when a reply by email is captured or an address bounces.
What if the referee refuses to give a reference?
In most cases employers are not legally required to give a reference, and many confirm little more than dates and job title. Ask the candidate for another referee and add them to the same candidate in RefAssure.
Do referees need to create an account?
No. Each referee gets a unique secure link that works on any device with no login, and they sign the reference when they submit.
Can I add another referee if the first one goes quiet?
Yes. You can add another referee to the same candidate at any point, and they get their own request and reminders. Many employers do this after day 12, or straight away if a bounce is flagged.
Are the reminders recorded?
Yes. The PDF report includes a full audit trail with timestamps for consent, each request, each reminder and completion. See how it works.
Related guides
Never chase a referee again.
Your first reference is free. Two minutes to send, and RefAssure does the rest.