Consumer Affairs
Bella donates to charity - without earning a cent
Lucy Cormack 1:50 PM One Australian social enterprise believes it has found a way to help consumers "give free money to charity".
Consumer watchdog the victim of latest scam
![CBD](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/g/6/1/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq5giv.png/1468467335391.jpg)
Colin Kruger, CBD 12:06 PM Is this the most fiendish scam yet? The ACCC has been forced to send out an alert about a new con where fraudsters impersonate the consumer watchdog itself.
Why Cara's stressing out at the shops
![Alex Crespo and Cara Heasman, who have experienced "analysis paralysis" in their Bronte flat.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/4/p/i/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq4rak.png/1468460624267.jpg)
Esther Han 11:43 AM With the plethora of products, you'd think we'd be satisfied. But we're actually feeling a whole lot of regret, according to a new study.
Rhodes workers join the Pokemon Go craze
![Brittany Kury and Sarah Westbrook.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/4/r/n/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq4vek.png/1468412300032.jpg)
James Lemon If you can't beat'em, you might as well join 'em and ''catch 'em all'', decided Sarah.
Google doomsday for payday lenders
![Cash](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/7/b/9/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq41pl.png/1468390439002.jpg)
Patrick Hatch Australians looking for a loan will be more likely to find help than a loan shark after a Google advertising ban comes into effect.
Metal shavings: Aldi recalls food product
![A pack of hot dog rolls has been recalled.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/4/1/u/o/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq4nti.png/1468422562664.jpg)
Esther Han Customers are being urged to not consume the product and return it to the store.
The Sydney suburb swamped by Pokemon Go players
![Daront searches for Pokemon characters at Peg Paterson park in Rhodes.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/4/p/t/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq4hb3.png/1468481342263.jpg)
James Lemon Pokémon Go players and residents are beginning to clash in a suburb which has an intersection of three Pokestops.
The 10 deadliest jobs in Australia
![Public housing construction by apprentice trainees from TAFE with the aid of the federal government stimulus money. ...](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/7/v/h/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq3twb.png/1468422713338.jpg)
Lucy Cormack One industry accounts for 23 per cent of workplace deaths in Australia.
The 'unhealthy' influence on kids sport
![McDonald’s sponsors junior athletics, basketball and swimming programs.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/1/6/o/r/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq34fc.png/1468455784611.jpg)
Esther Han Kids think food and drink companies that sponsor their club are 'cool', says researcher.
Virgin lures PokemonGO players
![Any businesses near a PokeStop could find players milling about for hours at a time.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/s/c/1/f/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq3xx7.png/1468306337747.jpg)
Lucy Battersby and Thomas Hounslow Australian companies have started taking advantage of the PokemonGO craze, with Virgin Mobile offering players free phone charging at 52 stores and kiosks across the country.Â
Optus to refund 175,000 customers
![Optus has admitted it failed to provide some customers with a product disclosure statement and a financial services ...](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/3/r/1/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq3uxt.png/1468304206638.jpg)
Sarah Danckert The telco giant will refund 175,000 mobile customers and write to another 500,000 who may have been affected after ASIC found it overcharged for insurance.
Pokemon Go outage 'stressing' Australian users
![The message on the Pokemon Go app showing a problem with the servers.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/3/t/p/y/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq3tfl.png/1468298920408.png)
Thomas Hounslow If you thought people were angry over Telstra's outages, when the Pokemon Go servers crashed, it drove people crazy.
Computers
Apple's Mac no longer bucking PC industry's sales slide
![Apple's laptops and desktops are famously resilient to PC market woes.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/p/w/i/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq3toq.png/1468292438823.jpg)
After defying industry trends in recent years, Apple is feeling the slowdown in global purchases of laptop and desktop computers.
How your fingers can help you lose weight
![finger diet 4](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/3/8/s/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq37kg.png/1468286370573.jpg)
Esther Han The clever use of hands and fingers could help you shed the winter fat, say Sydney University researchers.
Bestjet accused of misleading customers
![Paulina Olszanka said she booked flights to Poland through the company in March but had her tickets cancelled after she ...](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/l/i/i/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpp6n5.png/1468281029269.jpg)
Georgia Wilkins Travellers have accused budget airfare website Bestjet of misleading behaviour, saying it is cancelling reservations and asking for more money for new flights.
'Healthy' snacks not up to school canteen standards
![Eight-year-old Luca Portwin tucks into a Paddle Pop.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/b/j/4/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq2uvu.png/1468298785773.jpg)
Esther Han Two food giants have gotten into trouble for slapping misleading health claims on ice-cream and rice snacks.
Why four $147 concert tickets cost Michael $1656
![Mercury, News, Idol Intent. Jodi Dockett and son Logan, 6, won tickets to the Australian Idol concert tomorrow, ...](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/1/o/n/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq1f86.png/1468193477835.jpg)
Lucy Cormack One customer's experience serves as a warning about buying concert tickets from a third-party seller.
The 92pc 'Telstra tax' paid by 'trapped' customers
![Telstra logo](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/2/4/z/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq24q8.png/1468186047423.jpg)
Esther Han Customers should be recording every outage and loss, says Choice.
Pokemon Go takes over the city
![A Pokemon Go fans in Sydney on Sunday.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/2/e/b/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq2e1v.png/1468190605020.jpg)
Dominica Sanda Every generation of Pokemon fans was out on the streets of Sydney, glued to their phones in a battle to "Catch 'Em All".
Aldi maths: Does it really add up?
![If you have recently grabbed a pack of Coca-Cola cans at Aldi you may have noticed you're paying less for eight more ...](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/y/t/5/p/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpzlfv.png/1468112324860.jpg)
Swetha Das Figuring out where you're getting the best deal when product sizes differ is hard. So we've done the maths for you.
The three simple questions used to steal your identity
![Sue King had her identity stolen](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/1/d/p/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq1a3k.png/1468186057704.jpg)
Esther Han Sue King's friends started asking her why she was requesting a reference for a loan. She wasn't.
Not everyone a winner under Qantas' new fee regime
![Qantas](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/1/w/i/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq219l.png/1468106974105.jpg)
Esther Han Qantas has overhauled its card payment fees following the Reserve Bank's move to curb excessive surcharges. But are they any good?
Aboriginal corp 'defrauded' of $475k
![Uncle Bryon Powell stood down as chair of the Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation earlier this year.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/0/d/r/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq1fsm.png/1468015260705.jpg)
Sarah Danckert As smoke billowed from the corroboree in Ballarat few were aware of the deep strife afflicting the indigenous corporation behind the event.
Are cold and flu-fighting vitamins a waste of money?
![Sick Australians flock to stock up on vitamins, but there is disagreement over whether they help.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/p/7/k/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq18uo.png/1467962122701.jpg)
Patrick Hatch Consumer suffering from colds and the flu are spending millions of dollars on vitamins which some experts say will likely do nothing.
How you're being charged seven times the price
![Elizabeth Blanchard says buying a second hand car is an 'overwhelming' process.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/0/f/6/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpz5ci.png/1468107003499.jpg)
Esther Han When Elizabeth Blanchard wanted to check the car she was buying was legit, she almost paid $25 for a certificate she could get for $3.40.
The 10 most complained about ads of 2016 (so far)
![Newsreader Lee Lin Chin appeared in the controversial Australia Day lamb ad.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/2/m/2/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq0qvt.png/1467879119836.png)
Kim Arlington Too sexualised. Too graphic. Unfair to vegans.Â
Bank code of conduct review kicks off
![Australia's bank credit ratings are vulnerable after action was taken against the sovereign AAA rating. Illustration: ...](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/4/6/0/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq0arz.png/1468379483133.jpg)
Clancy Yeates A code of practice setting out how banks should deal with consumers and small business customers will be put under the microscope.
'Ducks with twisted necks walking in circles unable to eat'
![A photo of a lame duck in a Tinder Creek shed taken in late 2015.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/z/h/w/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gpzh75.png/1467857148910.jpg)
Esther Han Warning: graphic images. Major restaurants and butchers cut duck supplier over animal welfare accusations.
Half a million reasons hoverboards are still unsafe
![The hoverboard industry under fire as half a million models recalled in the US.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/0/l/x/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq0c2r.png/1467853216008.jpg)
Lucy Cormack Up half a million hoverboards are to be recalled in the US, following at least 99 incidents in which a battery pack overheated.Â
Medibank blunder set to delay tax returns
![Medibank customers will likely have to delay filing tax returns.](/web/20160714092655im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/q/5/g/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gq0984.png/1467848526767.jpg)
Patrick Hatch Thousands of Medibank Private customers will likely have to delay filing tax returns because of major technical blunder.