The Federal Trade Commission said Monday that it has ordered the firms and individuals to return $29.2 million in fees that they allegedly collected from clients. However, some of the individuals charged are unable to pay and the agency said it has agreed to suspend $11.5 million in judgments.

The settlements were the latest actions against marketers who authorities said exploited distressed homeowners to turn a profit.

Since the housing crisis began, the FTC has brought 29 cases against those who have falsely promised mortgage relief in exchange for hefty fees up front. The agency said it would continue to pursue relief scams.

Some of the companies used names that deceived borrowers into believing the firms were participating in the Obama administration's $75 billion mortgage modification effort, known as "Making Home Affordable."

In the settlements announced Monday:

_Steven Oscherowitz, affiliated with a firm called Federal Loan Modification Law Center, was ordered to pay $11.5 million. The FTC said Oscherowitz's firm received that much from consumers in the alleged scam. His firm charged as much as $3,000 to each client, most of which was required in advance. The firm often failed to deliver loan modifications, the FTC said. In addition to being banned from selling mortgage relief services, Oscherowitz is not permitted to operate telemarketing businesses, the FTC said.

Oscherowitz couldn't be reached for comment Monday. The agency said it continues to pursue cases against others linked to the firm.

_Loss Mitigation Services Inc. and Direct Lender were ordered to pay a total $6.2 million. Little money is likely to be collected from the two firms, however, which were shut down and taken over by a court-appointed receiver. The FTC has indicated that only small amounts sit in the firms' frozen accounts.

Dean Shafer, Marion Anthony "Tony" Perry and Bernadette Perry were banned from selling the services, but the $6.2 million judgment against them was suspended because of their inability to pay. The FTC said they falsely promised loan modifications if homeowners paid as much as $5,500. They couldn't be located for comment.

_Salvatore and Nicholas Puglia, of Hope Now Modifications and Hope Now Financial Services Corp. were ordered to pay $5.3 million. The FTC said that judgment will be suspended when they surrender all the funds in their bank accounts, which had been frozen by the court