TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Attorney General Bill McCollum says the nation's largest mortgage lender engaged in deceptive practices that left Florida borrowers with mortgages they couldn't afford.

McCollum filed a lawsuit yesterday against Countrywide Financial Corp. for unspecified damages. The lawsuit claims the lender hid from borrowers the potential costs of some loans, including higher interest rates and prepayment penalties.

Countrywide says it's not commenting on the specifics of the lawsuit but plans to cooperate with McCollum's office.

Illinois and California sued Countrywide last week, alleging the company persuaded homeowners to apply for risky mortgages far beyond their means. Washington's governor has accused the company of cheating the state out of five million dollars by underreporting assessments.

Countrywide is in the process of being taken over by Bank of America.

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On the Net:http://www.myfloridalegal.com/

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