What do I do?

[punch*drunk]

My dad is suffering from dementia, last weekend we were camping and his phone went flat. He recharged when he got home and coincidentally was contacted the same day by telemarketers claiming to represent Telstra.

The first I knew about it was him telling me Telstra will be sending him a letter  about his phone....he cant remember anything else about the call, but I have checked the number and its definitely telemarketing.

So what do I do? Try and ring them and fix it up now or wait it out until the letter comes. Bearing in mind I'm not the account holder and I'm not 100% sure what, if anything, he's signed up for.

Is there some kind of cooling off period with these things or will he be locked in if I dont get onto it straight away?

This is the number that he was called by   http://www.reverseaustralia.com/lookup/0894244710/

[daydream**believer]

Usually there is a cooling off period.

Plus, he hasnt actually signed anything yet so i cant imagine he's locked into anything

[green.fields]

You don't sign for much these days, lots of deals are done via voice recording over the phone.

I would ring Telstra to see if you can find out what's going on, get some sort of incident/call no from them so you have a record. Have Dad on hand in case they won't talk to you he can then talk to them and give permission for you to talk to them. Tell them he has dementia and he can not remember doing any deal and no deal will be taken up.

There was a similar story on ACA I think it was the other night.

[punch*drunk]

Thats what I was thinking. I kind of feel an urgency to get it fixed, but I dont even know yet what I need to fix and maybe there isnt anything? I think I just need some reassurance that its ok to wait for a few days to see what arrives in the mail.

[punch*drunk]

And i wont be seeing him again until Monday, so it will probably have to wait until then so I can have him on hand, although I'm pretty sure I'm already authorised to speak on his account.

Must recheck that do not call regoster too, i'm I had him on there.

[katydidthat]

There was a lot of advice on your link, Punch, about getting them to stop calling him.  

If your father has dementia (as mine did), he's probably not legally able to make a valid contract due to his illness (no ability to consent).  

[kengillard]

Does anyone have his Power of Attorney?  They would have the legal right to operate on his behalf.

[punch*drunk]

I have power of attorney in his will, but I'm not sure whether it needs to be enacted or something.

My dad was assessed by an aged care team yesterday and we have various appointments coming up. I think she told me to speak to the geriatrician re power of attorney. We will also be seeing his doctor in the next week or so.

[**meep**]

Is there some kind of cooling off period with these things or will he be locked in if I dont get onto it straight away?

http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/shopping/contracts-and-sales-calls/telemarketing

[freddie*rooster]

There is also an Enduring Power of Attorney:

What is an Enduring Power of Attorney?

It is a power created by a document whereby one person appoints another person or persons to be his or her attorney. An enduring power of attorney will continue to operate even if the person appointing the attorney becomes mentally incapacitated, whereas a general power of attorney becomes null and void on the incapacity of that person.

What is the difference between an Enduring and a General Power of Attorney?

A general power of attorney is valid whilst the donor is of sound mind, whilst an enduring power of attorney is valid until the death of the donor. Most powers of attorney are prepared as enduring powers of attorney for the reason that most donors will want to know that their attorney can sign any necessary documents if they are incapable of doing so.