[kocoman]

Thats what happened to me in the past. The hiring person tries to make you bend your former company policies for their own good. I kept getting calls from them saying that if I don't do as they say ("don't listen to your former work's policy and to violate it.... if I do my former company will really give me a bad reference!!!) so even before you get a job you will ruin your previous (and most important reference)... so just be firm and say sorry thats their side of the story and you are not going to violate their policy.

I think this is called respect/critical thinking/reflection.
Make sure to flag this (the one you had problem with the interviewer) in your "job hunting" book. so if few years later you do get that "reference" they need, you can go to interview again.

If the interviewer keeps insist and you don't have, there is nothing you can do. Its like collection agency saying "ask your friend to borrow money to pay it off" just because the "agency" said this doesn't mean you must do it. if it end up you lost your friend its your fault