BOSTON - Massachusetts' attorney general has obtained a preliminary injunction against Option One Mortgage Corp. and H&R Block Mortgage Corp. that requires them to notify the AG's office of their intent to foreclose upon subprime mortgages.

The court order defines subprime mortgages as adjustable-rate mortgages with an introductory period of less than three years or as a loan with a borrower debt-to-income ratio that exceeds 50% or as a loan with a prepayment penalty that lasts beyond the introductory period.

The vice president of marketing for the Massachusetts Credit Union League voiced support for the action taken by the state's top legal enforcer.

The attorney general was on strong footing both legally and morally, Rob Kimmett said. "These are exactly the type of loans that should not have been made," he said.

Upon notification, the AG will determine if the loan was so risky that it was unfair to the borrower or was originated using unfair and deceptive tactics.

The AG filed suit against Option One and its parent company, H&R Block, Inc., in June 2008, alleging that they made loans with little concern for the borrowers' ability to repay them.

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