-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AF47HEEmXUA9lp9PCUxKK/SlfaS+8qOPB4XgvWRRLoDQmki6H3CYEtJq+XE2vEY+
 uyx10jLfFQ34OBQZrMz4rA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950116-04-003512.txt : 20041119
<SEC-HEADER>0000950116-04-003512.hdr.sgml : 20041119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041119173208
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950116-04-003512
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041117
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041119
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041119

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BARRIST MICHAEL J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001032181
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21639
		FILM NUMBER:		041158853

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		215-441-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NCO GROUP INC
		STREET 2:		507 PRUDENTIAL ROAD
		CITY:			HORSHAM
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19044

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NCO GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001022608
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-CONSUMER CREDIT REPORTING, COLLECTION AGENCIES [7320]
		IRS NUMBER:				232858652
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		507 PRUDENTIAL ROAD
		CITY:			HORSHAM
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19044
		BUSINESS PHONE:		215-441-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		507 PRUDENTIAL ROAD
		CITY:			HORSHAM
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19044
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>p402466_ex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM_4.XML
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001022608</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NCO GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NCOG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001032181</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BARRIST MICHAEL J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NCO GROUP, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>507 PRUDENTIAL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HORSHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19044</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, no par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1715963</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, no par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>112275</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By the Michael J. Barrist 2001 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, no par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>76744</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Co-Trustee</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, no par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>375</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Co-Trustee</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are held in a trust for the benefit of Mr. Barrist's children. Mr. Barrist's spouse is a trustee of the trust
and Mr. Barrist has sole power to vote these shares pursuant to an irrevocable proxy.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares held in trusts for which Mr. Barrist acts as co-trustee. The beneficiaries of the trusts include a member
of Mr. Barrist's immediate family. Mr. Barrist disclaims the beneficial ownership of all shares held by such trusts. Amounts
shown do not include (a) 173,288 shares which Mr. Barrist has the right to vote pursuant to an irrevocable Proxy Agreement
 and shares dispositive power; and (b) 152,160 shares held in trust for the benefit of Mr. Barrist's children, for which Mr.
Barrist does not act as a trustee, as to all of which shares Mr. Barrist disclaims beneficial ownership. The filing of this
Statement shall not be construed as an admission (a) that the person filing this Statement is, for the purposes of Section
16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended), the beneficial owner of any equity securities covered by this
Statement, or (b) that this Statement is legally required to be filed by such person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joshua Gindin, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----