NCO Group has agreed to pay Pennsylvania $300,000 to settle more than 800
consumer complaints. The payment will be applied toward covering the state
attorney general’s costs in investigating the complaints as well as to future
efforts. Consumers had complained that they received what the attorney general
termed abusive or threatening calls from NCO.
In entering into an agreement known as an “Assurance of Voluntary Compliance”
with the state, NCO denies that it has engaged in unlawful or inappropriate
business practices in Pennsylvania, where it is headquartered.
NCO Chairman and CEO Michael Barrist, says in a statement on the settlement:
“It has always been our policy to work with regulators to assure that we are
promptly and effectively responding to consumer issues.” NCO contends it is the
largest collection agency in the world, contacting consumers 400 million times
a year.
