Countrywide relief slow in coming

Mortgage relief payments promised by defunct home lender Countrywide Financial haven’t helped the struggling homeowners they were meant to assist. Countrywide inked an agreement in December, under which it admitted no guilt in Florida and 10 other states, but promised help for about 52,000 Florida homeowners. It promised loan modifications for subprime and payment option adjustable rate mortgages, said it would waive all fees and penalties and agreed to make cash payments to families needing help with relocation after foreclosure. Countrywide set aside $21 million to compensate borrowers who quickly defaulted on their loans and said it would offer modifications to borrowers even if they had not yet fallen behind. But critics say Countrywide hasn’t delivered on its promises.