Online reference checking — secure, structured, automated
RefAssure moves your entire reference process online. Candidates consent digitally. Referees complete a secure online form — no account required. Everything is tracked, chased automatically and compiled into a professional PDF report. From 99p, no subscription, no contract.
How online reference checking works with RefAssure
The entire process happens online — from candidate consent through to the PDF report in your inbox.
Add candidate online
Log into your RefAssure dashboard, enter the candidate details and select your reference template. Done in under 2 minutes.
Candidate consents online
RefAssure emails and texts the candidate a secure link. They consent to reference checking and provide referee details — all online, all documented.
Referee receives secure online form
The referee receives a branded email with a unique, encrypted link to the online reference form. No account, no login — click and complete.
Automated online chasing
If the referee does not respond, automated email chasers and SMS reminders go out over 12 days. All handled online without any manual intervention.
Reference submitted online
The referee submits the completed form via the secure online portal. You are notified instantly.
PDF report downloaded online
A professional PDF report with the full audit trail is generated and available to download from your dashboard immediately.
Why online reference checking beats phone and email
Secure by design
Every referee link is unique, encrypted and single-use. Phone and email references have no equivalent security or verification layer.
Structured every time
Online forms ensure every reference captures the same information. No more inconsistent email replies or missing fields.
Faster response rates
Referees respond to a clear online form faster than an email asking them to reply with details. SMS reminders improve this further.
Instant PDF reports
Online references generate professional PDF reports automatically on completion — no manual formatting or filing.
GDPR compliant
Candidate consent is collected online and timestamped before any referee is contacted. Full audit trail stored securely on UK servers.
Full visibility
Track every reference in real time from your online dashboard. See exactly where each one is in the process at any time.
Online reference checking for UK employers — everything you need to know
When people search for online reference checking, they typically mean one of two things: they want to move away from phone-based references entirely, or they want a structured alternative to sending ad-hoc emails and waiting for replies. RefAssure delivers both — a completely digital reference process from start to finish, with no phone calls, no email threads and no manual chasing.
What happens when a reference is completed online?
The referee clicks the secure link in their email, completes the structured online form in their browser, and submits. The entire interaction is tracked and timestamped. On submission, RefAssure automatically generates a professional PDF report containing all referee responses, the candidate consent record, and a full timestamped audit trail. The report is immediately available to download from the employer's dashboard — no manual formatting, no waiting.
Online reference checking vs email references — the key differences
Email-based references are unstructured — different referees provide different amounts of information in different formats, making them difficult to compare and time-consuming to file. Online reference checking standardises every response. Every referee answers the same questions in the same format. Every report looks the same. Every reference has the same documented audit trail. For organisations processing more than a handful of references a month, this consistency has significant compliance and operational value.
How much does online reference checking cost?
RefAssure uses pay-as-you-go credits from 99p per reference — no monthly subscription, no contract, no per-user fees. Credits never expire. Most online reference checking platforms require a monthly subscription before you can send a single reference. RefAssure's model means a small business doing 5 references a month pays exactly the same per-reference rate as a large agency doing 200 — and neither pays anything when they are not actively hiring.
Online reference checking — questions answered
Online reference checking uses a web-based platform to manage the entire employment reference process digitally. Employers send structured reference requests via a secure online link. Referees complete the reference in their browser — no account required. Responses are collected automatically and compiled into a professional PDF report with a full audit trail.
Yes. RefAssure uses encrypted connections throughout. Each referee receives a unique, one-use secure link — it cannot be reused or shared. All data is stored on UK-based servers and processed in line with UK GDPR. The candidate gives written consent before any referee is contacted, and every action is logged with a timestamp.
No. Referees receive a unique secure link by email and click straight through to the online reference form. No account creation, no login, no software to install. This removes friction and maximises completion rates.
RefAssure charges from 99p per reference with no monthly subscription. Credits start at £9.99 for 10 references and never expire. There are no contracts and no per-user fees — significantly cheaper than most online reference checking platforms.
Most online references are completed within 1 to 3 days. Requests are sent instantly and automated email and SMS chasers go out if the referee does not respond promptly — compared to 5 to 14 days for manual processes.
Take your reference checking completely online
No phone calls. No email threads. No chasing. A completely digital reference process from 99p per reference.
From 99p per reference · No monthly fees · Credits never expire · UK data hosting