I just had a provider contact me for a reference on a 3 year old TER review.  I read the review, but do not recall the gent based on the review alone. I could not give a vouch for a person I have not entertained recently. People change.  
Was I wrong?  I am curious thoughts on what is reasonable, or responsible reference protocol.  

I have never relied on a reference because I like to do my own homework & never trusted references from providers that I did not know personally. I think everyone has their own safety protocols, but I do what works for me. Let me know how you feel. Thanks in advance.

I would think more like 6 months is a proper amount of time to still offer a reference unless the provider and the client maintain some kind of rapport.

Lick Lick,

Ashley

Especially if you don't even remember him. I'd say a reference should be no more than a year old.

If you don't remember him, you don't remember him.  

 
References are to ensure your mutual safety with the ladies with whom you exchange references, a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. I think you did the right thing.  

 
BTW, even if you did remember him after three years, I think it would be appropriate to tell add the caveat "Yes I do remember him, BUT it's been three years and I can't tell you what he is like today"

 
One last thing, if the client himself gave your name to the other provider it was rather presumptuous of him to expect you to not only remember him, but give him a reference after all this time without at least reaching out to you first to see if you still remembered him.

That's why I ask for P411 Okays within 24 hours.  I am probably the most forgettable human being walking the face of the earth.  My hope is they'll retain some memory of an appointment in the last 24 hours and give me the benefit of a doubt.

END OF MESSAGE

Most providers want 2-3 recent references.  Recent means within the past 6 months.  Maybe this lady was doing some additional research and decided to ping a few ladies that he wrote reviews on.  Some ladies screen every guy the same way, but most screen until they feel comfortable.  Any guy who sees a lot of ladies can provide 2 references that will say he is safe even guys with multiple blacklists.  So maybe some negative information came up and she wanted to get a fuller picture.

As far as White Lists go most ladies that give them seem to be saying not only is he safe but he is also a nice guy.  Either that or he wrote me a nice review so I will white list him.  

A few providers I know do their own diligence like you do, which I think is more reliable methods - it removes any possible source ‘bias’ and other issues.

Some providers told me that they put very little confidence in a reference from an agency compared to that from an indie.