You’d probably need someone else to call on your behalf. If you have, how did it turn out?
Edit: There seems to be some confusion about what I’m asking. I’m not talking about fake references. I’m talking about calling your reference on the sly to see if they’re actually going to give you a positive review.
For example things don’t go well with your landlord and you suspect they’re going to depict you as bad tenant when you put them down as a reference while looking for a new place.
The same thing could be said for bosses and jobs.
Not OP, but I heard that if you don’t get a job because of a bad reference, and you can prove they were misleading, then you can sue them for defamation.
Many people don’t want to take the risk, or say, “I’d rather not comment on x”.
Exactly, most larger company’s HR departments beat into the managers. You only give out that they worked there, their position, and how long
I’ve also heard it’s common to ask if they are eligible for rehire. It’s an easy way to get a feel for them without any actual details that could bite you.