NCO Group Announces Settlement with Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

HORSHAM, Pa., Jan. 27  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NCO Group, Inc. ("NCO" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:NCOG), a leading provider of business process outsourcing services, announced today that it entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance ("Agreement") with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ("Commonwealth"). Under the terms of the Agreement, NCO specifically denies that it has engaged in unlawful or inappropriate business practices, and has agreed to pay the Commonwealth $300,000 to be used towards the costs of the investigation and/or future public protection purposes. The Agreement also requires NCO to comply with consumer protection laws and to maintain certain policies and procedures designed to facilitate and monitor its ongoing compliance.

Commenting on the Agreement Michael J. Barrist, NCO Chairman and CEO stated; "It has always been our policy to work with regulators to assure that we are promptly and effectively responding to consumer issues. As the largest provider of Accounts Receivable Collection services in the world, NCO contacts consumers approximately 400 million times per year. Although we provide our services on a national basis, a disproportionate number of consumers look to the Commonwealth for assistance because we are headquartered in Pennsylvania. I am very pleased we were able to reach this Agreement with the Commonwealth since it resolves all issues to date and, more importantly, provides for a positive working relationship in the future."

NCO Group, Inc. is a leading provider of business process outsourcing services including accounts receivable management, customer relationship management and other services. NCO provides services through over 100 offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, the Philippines, the Caribbean and Panama.

  For further information:

  At NCO Group, Inc.
  Investor Relations
  [phone]
  http://www.ncogroup.com/



Certain statements in this press release, including, without limitation, statements as to the impact of the Commonwealth settlement, statements as to NCO's or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions, and all other statements in this press release, other than historical facts, are forward- looking statements, as such term is defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, are subject to change at any time and may be affected by various factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the expected or planned results. In addition to the factors discussed above, certain other factors, including without limitation, the risk that NCO will not be able to implement its business strategy as and when planned, the risk that NCO will not be able to realize operating efficiencies in the integration of its acquisitions or that the restructuring charges will be greater than anticipated, risks related to the ERP implementation, risks related to the final outcome of the environmental liability, risks related to past and possible future terrorists attacks, risks related to the economy, the risk that NCO will not be able to improve margins, risks relating to growth and acquisitions, including the acquisition of Risk Management Alternatives, Inc., risks related to fluctuations in quarterly operating results, risks related to the timing of contracts, risks related to international operations, and other risks detailed from time to time in NCO's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, can cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, regardless of whether new information becomes available, future developments occur or otherwise. 

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DATASOURCE: NCO Group, Inc.



CONTACT:  Investor Relations at NCO Group, Inc., [phone] 



Web site:  http://www.ncogroup.com/

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