NCO Financial to Close Ohio Health Care Office

Collections giant NCO Financial Systems is closing the health care program at its Columbus, Ohio office in January, putting 85 people out of work.

The program is shutting down “due to business needs," according to the company’s layoff notice filed with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

NCO Financial combined last year with other firms that handle collections and customer service for other companies, including APAC Customer Services. Jobs being cut in Ohio include supervisors, managers and customer service representatives.

The health care office offers accounts receivable management services and collections for hospitals, academic medical centers and physician groups, according to NCO Financial’s Web site. Company officials were not immediately available for comment on the closing of its Ohio office.

NCO Financial's holding company is Plano, Texas-based Expert Global Solutions, which employs 42,000 people at more than 100 locations in 12 countries.

Expert Global in July agreed to pay a $3.2 million fine for allegedly making illegal collections calls and not verifying debt in dispute. The fine was the largest by the Federal Trade Commission issued against a third-party debt collector.