Nikon D3000 Built in Flash Issues...help?!

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Hello!
I hope I have come to the right place... I am a complete photography/SLR newbie and my knowledge is limited. I am purely a point/shoot kind of user...for now. I am currently borrowing my father in law's D3000 and trying to teach myself photography. I am slowly learning, however I have a bit of a problem I am hoping you can help with.
I am having trouble with the pop up flash on the D3000. Three individual problems, in fact, that happen inconsistently when the camera is in use.

When I am taking a succession of shots (usually inside my house, of my son or I use the macro setting for product images for a blog, etc) the flash pops up and fires as it should, however the images on the viewfinder/computer are totally underexposed, to the point they are almost black. When the flash fires it actually makes the image appear darker than it is!

When it is not doing this, the opposite happens - the flash fires - one single and blinding burst of light and totally overexposes the image to the point where everything is bright white. My toddler is never impressed when this happens, as the single burst of flash is blinding!

The third problem is that the flash pops up but doesn't fire at all sometimes...in poorly lit areas when it really should. The vast majority of my photography is done within the home and being in permanently damp and overcast Wales, it's usually poorly lit in here.

I'm at a total loss as to why this is happening?
Sometimes, the flash pops up and fires just as it should, so I know that the flash is capable of working, however that is becoming more and more of a rare occurrence.

:bang::bang::bang:
I am missing some really amazing shots because of this problem and a big concern is that the camera is damaged in some way...as it isn't mine, I need to know if it is a camera fault or my fault!

Any help greatly appreciated.
 
Have you checked what flash mode it is in, TTL for example?
Cant remember the menu now, but just try a quick google maybe for d3000 and ttl mode
 
...although doesnt quite tie in with some other stuff you mention....give it a quick look anyway...
 
Are you using spot metering? Is there flash comp?

If you are shooting a lot of indoor shooting in wales (from sunny Barry myself) you might want to invest in a flashgun. I use a Yongnuo yn-465 they are only £30-£40 and great. You can then bounce the light of the ceiling and walls to achieve a softer light. On board flash are pants.
 
it sounds a bit like flash compensation may be set (but that doesn't really explain the shift from under to over exposed, unless you are changing it inadvertently) I dont know the controls of the D3000 but it would be changed by turning the command wheel.
 
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