Home Affordable Modification Program rife with problems

``But the Treasury hasn't been able to force servicers to follow program guidelines. By its own admission, it has no way of holding them accountable because the program is voluntary and there is no penalty when servicers fail to help qualified homeowners. As a result, most program enrollees haven't received permanent modifications at the end of a trial. Instead, their rates return to original amounts, and they now owe back payments. This means if someone's original monthly payment of $1,000 is reduced to $700 during a trial, they now owe $900 because of the $300 less they've paid each month -- and their rate returns to $1,000.''