31.   Consumer groups fear that if mortgage companies are allowed to pay fees for referrals, it could lead to customers being steered to more expensive mortage products.

32.   Consumers Union also called for large mortgage companies and mainstream financial institutions to make quality home equity loans in neighborhoods targeted by abusive lenders.

33.   Countrywide Credit, a Pasadena, California-based mortgage company, will replace USLife Corp.

34.   Delta Airlines is the latest airline to form a partnership between its frequent flier plan and a mortgage company.

35.   Federal law now forbids banks and mortgage companies from discriminating against women who seek mortgages.

36.   Finance Ministry officials were also questioned at the hearings and disclaimed responsibility for any role in the piling up of bad debt at the seven mortgage companies.

37.   Fleet Mortgage, the third-largest U.S. mortgage company, also agreed to develop a uniform mortgage pricing and monitoring system to prevent discriminatory lending practices.

38.   Fannie Mae also plans to market its services to other mortgage companies.

39.   For awhile, they resisted classifying some of their loans to the mortgage companies as bad debt, maintaining that they would be repaid.

40.   Fleet Mortgage, the third-largest U.S. mortgage company, also agreed to develop a uniform mortgage system to prevent discriminatory lending practices.