<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> Note: This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended March 31, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001027574 <NAME> Outsourcing Solutions Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 41,671 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 42,791 <ALLOWANCES> 1,231 <INVENTORY> 43,611 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 132,669 <PP&E> 80,244 <DEPRECIATION> 35,847 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 656,253 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 121,383 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 12,167 <COMMON> 53 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 656,253 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 114,826 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 105,867 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,224 <INCOME-PRETAX> (2,265) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,265) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> (572) <NET-INCOME> (2,837) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0