Amy Bainbridge
Amy Bainbridge is the ABC's consumer affairs reporter, filing to a range of current affairs programs. She has previously covered politics, sport and general news. Amy spent two years in Beijing with China Central Television and has reported from Indonesia as the winner of the Elizabeth O'Neill Journalism Award. She has covered four Paralympic Games as a commentator and has a Master of Middle Eastern & Central Asian Studies. You can follow Amy on Twitter: @amy_bainbridge
Solar batteries 'exploding' in popularity with uptake tipped to triple: audit
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The first national audit of batteries that store solar power shows almost 7,000 were installed in Australian homes last year — and that's predicted to triple this year.
Topics: electricity-energy-and-utilities, industry, business-economics-and-finance, alternative-energy, environment, energy, science-and-technology, australia
Australian VW drivers treated like 'backwards citizens'
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Volkswagen is being urged to explain why Australian drivers are not being offered compensation for cars fitted with emissions-cheating devices.
Topics: consumer-protection, business-economics-and-finance, australia, united-states
'Friendly fraud': Online refund scam victim relieved after man charged
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Small business owner Nick Waterman says he is "really rapt" police have charged a man after an ABC story revealed a credit card refund scam had left his company more than $1,000 out of pocket.
Topics: fraud-and-corporate-crime, internet-technology, melbourne-3000
'Painful' sunscreen burn cases ignite call for product testing review
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More stories are emerging of people being left "red raw" despite using popular sunscreen products, prompting calls from a leading public health advocate for a review of the way Australia regulates sunscreens.
Topics: health, skin-cancer, diseases-and-disorders, australia
Over 55s hardest hit by 'invasive' identity theft: Scamwatch
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Almost a third of all people to report having their identity stolen last year are over the age of 55, according to figures from the Federal Government's Scamwatch website.
Topics: hacking, telecommunications, industry, business-economics-and-finance, computers-and-technology, science-and-technology, law-crime-and-justice, australia
Telco union officials lured into 'catastrophic' identity fraud scam
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It started off with a series of suspicious emails and ended in a catastrophic con that saw scammers gain access to union officials' phones, private social media accounts and even their bank accounts.
Topics: hacking, telecommunications, industry, business-economics-and-finance, computers-and-technology, science-and-technology, nsw
Woman, children suffer 'horrific' burns while using Banana Boat sunscreen
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A Melbourne woman whose legs were scorched after going into the sun and a Brisbane mother whose children were left with large blisters are the latest in a string of people raising safety concerns about Banana Boat sunscreen.
Topics: health, skin-cancer, diseases-and-disorders, australia, wa, brisbane-4000, qld
Online refund scam leaves small business 'gutted'
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A small business is hit hard by an online credit card refund scam, prompting calls from retail groups to strengthen protections for business owners.
Topics: fraud-and-corporate-crime, corruption, law-crime-and-justice, internet-technology, computers-and-technology, science-and-technology, melbourne-3000, vic, australia
Who's paying the most for power?
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A snapshot of energy prices in six states and territories shows South Australians are paying the most for their electricity bills, while those in Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory are paying the least.
Topics: business-economics-and-finance, industry, electricity-energy-and-utilities, environment, sa, australia
Productivity Commission flags higher fines for dodgy products
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The maximum fines for retailers who sell unsafe products, like some hoverboards, could be 10 times as high, according to suggestions from the Productivity Commission.
Topics: fraud-and-corporate-crime, business-economics-and-finance, law-crime-and-justice, australia
BMW Finance to repay millions to customers
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Car loan provider BMW Australia Finance will refund millions of dollars worth of loans to customers after it was found to have breached responsible lending provisions.
Topics: consumer-protection, consumer-finance, business-economics-and-finance, australia
Some car dealers 'deceptively misleading' consumers over safety ratings
Posted
An independent vehicle safety advocate says some car dealers are peddling misinformation and "deceptively misleading consumers" about the safety ratings of new cars in order to secure a sale.
Topics: consumer-protection, business-economics-and-finance, automotive, industry, australia
'Massive frustration' among bush internet users in sights of new lobby group
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Tackling the everyday struggle to get decent phone and internet coverage in country Australia will be the focus of a new consumer advocacy group.
Topics: internet-technology, rural, information-and-communication, computers-and-technology, science-and-technology, australia
Slow speeds, drop-outs among key problems for NBN users
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An ombudsman's report shows a steep increase in the number of complaints about the NBN, with the biggest problems including slow data speeds, unusable services and drop-outs.
Topics: internet-technology, information-and-communication, computers-and-technology, science-and-technology, bundaberg-4670, qld, australia
China's coal likely peaked in 2013, now set to plummet: report
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A dramatic shift to renewable energy is underway in China and India, a comprehensive report analysing the global energy market finds, prompting a warning that Australia is one of the countries most exposed to the changing dynamic.
Topics: industry, coal, business-economics-and-finance, energy, science-and-technology, wind-energy, tidal-energy, solar-energy, nuclear-energy, hydro-energy, geothermal-energy, alternative-energy, environment, electricity-energy-and-utilities, china, australia, india
Retirees facing eviction ordered to attend mediation with developer
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A group of retirees facing eviction after their NSW residential park was sold to a developer are ordered to attend mediation with the company.
Topics: homelessness, housing, courts-and-trials, social-policy, community-and-society, hastings-point-2489
Sticky situation as major honey producer and beekeeper sue each other
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A Supreme Court battle between a beekeeper and Australia's biggest honey producer Capilano over the safety and source of its products is becoming increasingly bitter.
Topics: beekeeping, rural, livestock, australia
Retirees face 'nightmare' of homelessness ahead of ruling on park eviction
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A group of NSW retirees whose fight for their homes made it all the way to the Supreme Court say they have reached "nightmare stage" as they prepare to learn their fate after a tribunal hearing today.
Topics: homelessness, housing, government-and-politics, courts-and-trials, law-crime-and-justice, social-policy, community-and-society, hastings-point-2489
Cash Converters to refund millions to pay day loan customers
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Payday lender Cash Converters will refund consumers millions of dollars and pay an infringement notice after an investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Topics: consumer-finance, consumer-protection, company-news, business-economics-and-finance, banking, australia
Dulux hit with $400k fine for misleading claims
Posted
Paint maker Dulux is hit with a $400,000 fine for making misleading claims about its so-called heat reflective paint.
Topics: business-economics-and-finance, company-news, consumer-protection, australia
Energy companies accused of capitalising on solar rebate 'confusion'
Posted
As generous government rebates for solar users wind up across parts of Australia, advocates have accused some energy retailers of taking advantage of the confusion about the range of options available to consumers.
Topics: solar-energy, alternative-energy, environment, environmental-technology, australia, nsw, sa, vic
Batteries, meters, cutting back: How to avoid solar tariff bill shock
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Households signed up to the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme stand to pay an average $1,600 extra for their electricity when the program winds up at the end of 2016. The ABC spoke to a few families to find out how they plan to beat the bill shock.
Topics: electricity-energy-and-utilities, industry, business-economics-and-finance, government-and-politics, federal---state-issues, state-parliament, parliament, australia, nsw, sa, vic
Does Australia need 'lemon laws' for dodgy cars?
Posted
Legal groups are calling for Australia to introduce what is known as "lemon laws" to cover faulty products, including new and used cars.
Topics: consumer-protection, business-economics-and-finance, automotive, industry, australia
Credit card surcharge crackdown a 'big win for consumers'
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Companies that charge consumers excessive credit card fees to be hit with big fines under a ban that takes effect on Thursday, limiting the amount businesses can charge customers to use payment methods such as EFTPOS, MasterCard, Visa and American Express cards.
Topics: consumer-finance, business-economics-and-finance, air-transport, australia
NSW Fair Trading lifts the lid on most complained about companies
Posted
New South Wales becomes the first state to launch a complaints register publicly listing the companies which receive the most complaints to authorities, with real estate agent LJ Hooker topping the list.
Topics: business-economics-and-finance, retail, australia
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