The trading watchdog has stepped up its campaign to warn people about the dangers of borrowing money from loan sharks. The Office of Fair Trading joined forces with Trading Standards Illegal Money Lending Teams to release a new video urging people to report loan sharks.

Citigroup Inc Chief Executive Vikram Pandit on Thursday voiced support for key Obama administration financial reform goals, including a consumer protection authority, but government watchdogs questioned his earnestness.

The Associated Press Should a government agency be free from bank regulators to write rules that govern consumer debt?

Editor's note: We are pleased today to bring you the first weekly CTWatchdog column by longtime Connecticut journalist and consumer advocate George Gombossy. For lots more, visit his Web site at www.ctwatchdog.com.

The battle in the Senate over a proposed consumer financial protection agency is the final show-down between banks and American families, bailout watchdog Elizabeth Warren wrote to supporters Monday night.