Despite the merits or lack of with the applicant it is poor form to make an incorrect phone call like that. However it happens with all companies. I had something similar many moons ago with QF, basically advised of a spot on next months course. I didn't get my hopes up, because in my experience if somethings not on paper, its not on. Pilots with some real world experience need to be thicker skinned. If someone in this position gets shattered over this then he probably will not make it anyway. Then again how did he get this far. Don't get me wrong I'm not picking on anyone, but in the real world this is just part and parcel of the industry. Maybe times of late are so prosperous that some are not prepared for the hard reality of human errors in a sometimes inhumane industry. At the very least its character building.