<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
Note: This schedule  contains summary financial  information  extracted from the
Form 10-Q for the  Quarter  Ended  September  30, 1999 and is  qualified  in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.

</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0001027574
<NAME>                        OUTSOURCING SOLUTIONS INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                              28,607
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       47,121
<ALLOWANCES>                                           706
<INVENTORY>                                         29,772
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   115,548
<PP&E>                                              79,098
<DEPRECIATION>                                      35,819
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     600,921
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              109,701
<BONDS>                                                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                         13,686
<COMMON>                                                53
<OTHER-SE>                                               0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       600,921
<SALES>                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   380,063
<CGS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      352,642
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                        76
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  38,214
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    (10,869)
<INCOME-TAX>                                           375
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                (11,244)
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                       (11,244)
<EPS-BASIC>                                            0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0