Your Right to Dispute

A plain-language guide for candidates on how to challenge a score, report an issue, or seek a review

Version 1.0 | Effective Date: 1 January 2025

About this guide: This guide explains your dispute rights in plain language. The full legal framework is set out in the Dispute Resolution Policy. If anything in this guide conflicts with the Policy, the Policy applies.

Can I dispute my JobSeal?

Yes — but with an important limitation. You can dispute your score if you believe something went wrong with the verification process. You cannot dispute a score simply because you feel the referee's assessment was unfair or disagree with the result.

Think of it this way: the process can be challenged; the referee's opinion cannot. This mirrors how credit disputes work — you can challenge an error in how a record was created, but you cannot demand that a legitimate negative entry be removed because you dislike it.

What can I challenge?

You can raise a dispute if you believe any of the following occurred:

  • The verification request was sent to the wrong person — someone who did not actually manage you or work in HR at that company during your employment;
  • A referee responded to a survey on your behalf without being properly invited or after the invitation had expired;
  • You have credible evidence that a former employer or referee deliberately provided false responses with the intent of harming you (this is a serious allegation and requires evidence);
  • A technical error caused your score to be calculated incorrectly; or
  • A score appeared on your profile that is linked to a role you did not add.

What can I not challenge?

The following are not valid grounds for a dispute:

  • You believe the referee was too harsh or that their assessment does not reflect your best work;
  • You know who the referee was and disagree with what they said;
  • You believe a more recent role should outweigh an older one; or
  • You simply want a higher score.

If you feel your profile does not tell the full story, the best response is to add a candidate statement (up to 500 words) directly to the disputed role score. This statement is visible to any employer who views your profile.

How do I raise a dispute?

The easiest way is through your account dashboard. Go to your employment history, find the role you want to dispute, and click 'Dispute this score'. You can also email disputes@jobseal.co.

When you submit your dispute, tell us:

  1. Which role and score you are disputing;
  2. What you believe went wrong (from the valid grounds listed above);
  3. What outcome you are looking for; and
  4. Any supporting information you can provide.

Time limit: You must raise a score dispute within 90 days of the score being published on your profile. Disputes submitted after this period will not be accepted unless you can show you could not reasonably have known about the issue sooner.

What happens after I submit?

# Stage SLA Action
1 Acknowledgement 2 days You'll receive a confirmation email with your Dispute Reference Number and the name of your case handler.
2 Review begins 5 days Your case handler reviews the verification audit trail — who was contacted, when, and whether the process was followed correctly.
3 Investigation Days 5–20 We check the technical records. We may need more information from you, which will pause the clock until you respond.
4 Outcome notice By day 20 You'll receive a written Outcome Notice explaining what we found and what, if anything, will change.

What are the possible outcomes?

  • Score removed: If we find a process error or confirmed bad-faith response, the affected role score is removed. The role will show as 'verification disputed' and you can request a fresh verification if you want.
  • Score corrected: If a technical calculation error is found, the score is recomputed and any employers who received a report with the wrong score are notified.
  • Candidate statement added: If no error is found but you want to add context, we'll help you attach a statement to the score.
  • Dispute not upheld: If we find no procedural error, the score stands. We'll explain our findings clearly.

What if I disagree with the outcome?

You can request an internal review within 20 business days of receiving your Outcome Notice. An internal review is handled by a senior team member who was not involved in the original investigation.

An internal review looks at whether the process was followed correctly and whether the decision was reasonable — not whether you personally agree with the referee's assessment.

If you're still not satisfied after the internal review, you have external options:

  • Privacy concerns: Contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au or 1300 363 992;
  • Consumer concerns: Contact the ACCC or your state consumer protection body; or
  • Legal action: You retain the right to seek legal advice and, if appropriate, commence proceedings.

Can I see who wrote the review?

No. Referee identities and individual responses are permanently anonymised as part of how the scoring system works. This cannot be changed in a dispute process. The anonymity of referees is fundamental to the integrity of the system — without it, referees would face pressure not to give honest assessments.

If you believe you know who gave you a low score and that they did so maliciously, you can submit a Fraud Allegation with whatever evidence you have. We will investigate without confirming or denying your theory about the specific referee's identity.

What about my privacy during the process?

Everything you share with us during a dispute investigation is handled confidentially. We will not share your submission with your employer, a prospective employer, or any other external party, except to the limited extent required to conduct the investigation.

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