OUTSOURCING SOLUTIONS INC.

                 NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT [C]

               This  Agreement  (the  "Agreement"),  dated [ ] ,  1996,  is made
between  Outsourcing  Solutions  Inc. (the  "Company") and Timothy G. Beffa (the
"Optionee").  All  capitalized  terms that are not defined herein shall have the
meaning as defined in the Outsourcing Solutions Inc. 1995 Stock Option and Stock
Award Plan, as amended (the "Plan").  References to "he," "him," and "his" shall
mean the feminine form of such terms, when applicable.

                              W I T N E S S E T H :
               1. Grant of Option.  Pursuant to the  provisions of the Plan, the
Company  hereby grants to the Optionee,  subject to the terms and  conditions of
the Plan and subject further to the terms and conditions  herein set forth,  the
right and option to purchase  from the Company,  all or any part of an aggregate
of 41,555.21 shares of $0.01 par value common stock of the Company (the "Stock")
at a per share purchase price equal to $12.50 (the "Option"),  such Option to be
exercisable  as  hereinafter  provided.  The  Option  shall not be treated as an
incentive stock option as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended.
               2. Terms and  Conditions.  It is  understood  and agreed that the
Option evidenced hereby is subject to the following terms and conditions:

               (a)  Expiration Date. The  Option  shall  expire  ten  (10) years
after the date indicated above.

               (b)  Exercise  of  Option.  Subject  to the  other  terms of this
Agreement  and the Plan,  the Option may be exercised on or after the date which
is eight years from the date hereof; provided, however, that notwithstanding any
other  provision  of this  Agreement,  the  Option  shall  only be  cumulatively
exercisable with respect to an aggregate number of shares of Stock equal to 2.5%
of the number of shares of Stock,  if any,  issued by the  Company  from time to
time, prior to the expiration date of the Option, upon conversion by the holders
thereof of the Company's  Preferred Stock and provided further that,  subject to
the preceding clause,  such Option shall become  exercisable (i) with respect to
fifty percent (50%) of the shares of Stock subject to the Option on or after the
satisfaction  by the  Company  of such  reasonable  performance  targets  as are
established  in good faith by the Committee or the Board in writing on or before
December  31 of each  year  for the  next  succeeding  year,  as set  forth in a
resolution of the Committee or the Board (as applicable),  as to that percentage
of the total  shares of Stock  covered by this  Option  set forth on  Schedule I
attached  hereto and (ii) with respect to the  remaining  fifty percent (50%) of
the shares of Stock  subject to the Option upon the  occurrence of a Liquidation
Event, as defined on Schedule I attached  hereto,  subject to the achievement by
the Company of internal rate of return  targets as set forth on such Schedule I,
plus any shares of Stock as to which the Option could have been exercised  prior
to  satisfaction  of such conditions in (i) and/or (ii) in a particular year (if
any) but was not so exercised.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  the Option shall
become  fully  exercisable  as to those  shares of Stock  referred in clause (i)
above  immediately  upon the  occurrence  of a Change in Control  (as defined in
Section 3 below).

               Any  exercise  of  all  or any  part  of  this  Option  shall  be
accompanied by a written  notice to the Company  specifying the number of shares
of Stock as to which the  Option is being  exercised.  Notation  of any  partial
exercise shall be made by the Company on Schedule II attached hereto.

               (c) Consideration. At the time of any exercise of the Option, the
purchase  price of the shares of Stock as to which the Option shall be exercised
shall be paid to the Company (i) in cash,  (ii) with Stock  already owned for at
least  eight  months  by the  Optionee  having a total  fair  market  value,  as
determined  in accordance  with Section 6(a) of the Plan ("Fair Market  Value"),
equal to the purchase  price of such Stock,  or (iii) a combination  of cash and
Stock (such Stock  having  already  been owned for at least eight  months by the
Optionee)  having a total Fair  Market  Value,  as so  determined,  equal to the
purchase price of such Stock.

               (d) Exercise Upon Death, Disability or Termination of Employment.
(i) In the event of the death of the  Optionee  while an employee of the Company
or a subsidiary of the Company,  the Option,  to the extent such Option would be
exercisable in accordance  with Section 2(b) hereof as of the date of his death,
may be immediately  exercised after his death by the legal representative of the
Optionee's  estate or by the legatee of the  Optionee  under his last will for a
period of two years  from the date of his death or until the  expiration  of the
stated period of the Option, whichever period is the shorter.

               (ii)  If  the  Optionee's   employment  with  the  Company  or  a
subsidiary of the Company shall terminate by reason of permanent  disability (as
defined in the last  sentence of this  Section  2(d)(ii)),  his  Option,  to the
extent exercisable in accordance with Section 2(b) hereof as of the date of such
termination,  may be immediately  exercised after such termination of employment
but may not be exercised after the expiration of the period of one year from the
date of such  termination  of  employment or of the stated period of the Option,
whichever period is the shorter;  provided,  however,  that if the Optionee dies
within a period of one year from the date of such termination of employment, any
unexercised  Option,  to the extent  exercisable in accordance with Section 2(b)
hereof as of the date of such  termination,  may be exercised after his death by
the legal  representative  of his estate or by the legatee of the Optionee under
his last will until the  expiration  of the period of two years from the date of
his  death or of the  stated  period  of the  Option,  whichever  period  is the
shorter.  For purposes of this Agreement,  "permanent  disability" shall mean an
inability (as  determined by the Committee) to perform duties and services as an
employee of the Company or a subsidiary  of the Company by reason of a medically
determinable physical or mental impairment, supported by medical evidence, which
can be  expected  to last for a  continuous  period of not less  than  eight (8)
months.

               (iii)  If  (A)  the  Company  or  a  subsidiary  of  the  Company
terminates the  Optionee's  employment  with the Company or such  subsidiary and
such  termination  is not "for  cause"  (as  defined  in  Section  2.5(d) of the
Stockholders Agreement,  dated as of September 21, 1995, as amended and restated
on January 10, 1996 and on February 16, 1996 and as may be further  amended from
time to time,  by and among  Outsourcing  Solutions  Inc.,  the MDC Entities (as
defined  therein),  APT (as defined  therein),  the Management  Stockholders (as
defined  therein) and the  Non-Management  Stockholders (as defined therein) (as
amended,   the  "Stockholders   Agreement"))  or  (B)  the  Optionee  terminates
employment  with the Company or such subsidiary for "good reason" (as defined in
Section 2.5(c) of the Stockholders  Agreement),  the Optionee's  Option,  to the
extent such Option would have been  exercisable in accordance  with Section 2(b)
hereof  as of the  date of  such  termination,  may  thereafter  be  immediately
exercised  but may not be exercised  after the  expiration  of the period of one
year from the date of such  termination of employment or of the stated period of
the Option,  whichever  period is the shorter;  provided,  however,  that if the
Optionee  dies  within a period  one year from the date of such  termination  of
employment,  any unexercised  Option,  to the extent such Option would have been
exercisable  in  accordance  with  Section  2(b)  hereof  as of the date of such
termination,  may  thereafter  be exercised by the legal  representative  of his
estate  or by the  legatee  of the  Optionee  under  his  last  will  until  the
expiration  of the  period  of two  years  from the date of his  death or of the
stated period of the Option, whichever period is the shorter.

               (iv)  If  the  Optionee's   employment  with  the  Company  or  a
subsidiary of the Company is terminated by reason of the  Optionee's  retirement
after attaining both five (5) years of continuous  service with the Company or a
subsidiary of the Company and 59 1/2 years of age, to the extent  exercisable in
accordance  with  Section 2(b) hereof as of the date of such  termination,  such
Option may  thereafter be immediately  exercised but may not be exercised  after
the expiration of the period of two (2) years from the date of such  termination
of  employment or of the stated  period of the Option,  whichever  period is the
shorter; provided, however, that if the Optionee dies within a period of two (2)
years from the date of such termination of employment,  any unexercised  Option,
to the extent  exercisable in accordance with Section 2(b) hereof as of the date
of such termination,  may thereafter be exercised by the legal representative of
his  estate or by the  legatee  of the  Optionee  under his last will  until the
expiration  of the  period  of two  years  from the date of his  death or of the
stated period of the Option, whichever period is the shorter.

               (v)  If the Optionee's employment is terminated by the Company or
a  subsidiary  of the Company  "for cause" (as defined in Section  2.5(d) of the
Stockholders  Agreement) or if the  Optionee's  employment is terminated for any
reason not described in this Section 2(d), the Optionee's Option shall terminate
on the date of such termination.

               (e)  Nontransferability.  This Option  shall not be  transferable
other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

               (f)  Withholding  Taxes.  If  required  by  applicable  law,  the
Optionee shall be required to pay  withholding  taxes, if any, to the Company in
cash at the time of  receipt of Stock  upon the  exercise  of all or any part of
this Option;  provided,  however, tax withholding  obligations may be met by the
withholding  of  Stock  otherwise   deliverable  to  the  Optionee  pursuant  to
procedures approved by the Committee;  provided further,  however, the amount of
Stock so withheld shall not exceed the minimum required withholding  obligation.
In no event shall Stock be delivered  to any  Optionee  until he has paid to the
Company in cash the amount of tax  required to be withheld by the Company  under
applicable law, if any, or has elected to have such tax withholding obligations,
if any, met by the withholding of Stock in accordance  with procedures  approved
by the Committee.

               (g) No Rights as Stockholder. The Optionee shall have no dividend
rights or any other rights as a stockholder  with respect to any shares of Stock
subject to the  Option  until he has given  written  notice of  exercise  of the
Option and paid in full for such shares.

               (h)  No Right to Continued  Employment.  This  Option  shall  not
confer upon the Optionee any right with respect to  continuance of employment by
the Company or a subsidiary  of the  Company,  nor shall it interfere in any way
with the right of the Company or such a subsidiary to terminate  his  employment
at any time.

               (i) Inconsistency with Plan. Notwithstanding any provision herein
to the contrary,  this Option  provides the Optionee  with no greater  rights or
claims than are  specifically  provided for under the Plan. If and to the extent
that any provision  contained  herein is  inconsistent  with the Plan,  the Plan
shall govern.

               (j)  Compliance with Laws, Regulations,  Stockholders  Agreement,
Etc. This Option and the obligation of the Company to sell and deliver shares of
Stock hereunder,  shall be subject to (i) all applicable federal and state laws,
rules and regulations, (ii) any registration,  qualification, approvals or other
requirements  imposed by any  government or regulatory  agency or body which the
Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine to be necessary or applicable
and (iii) the terms of the  Stockholders  Agreement in all  respects.  Moreover,
this Option may not be  exercised if its  exercise,  or the receipt of shares of
Stock pursuant thereto, would be contrary to applicable law.

               3. Change in Control.  For purposes of this Agreement,  a "Change
in Control"  shall be deemed to have  occurred if a "Sale of the  Business,"  as
defined in and contemplated by Section 2.4 of the  Stockholders  Agreement shall
have occurred.

               4. Investment  Representation.  If at the time of exercise of all
or part of this Option the Stock is not  registered  under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities  Act"),  and/or there is no current prospectus
in effect under the Securities Act with respect to the Stock, the Optionee shall
execute,  prior to the  issuance  of any shares of Stock to the  Optionee by the
Company,  an agreement  (in such form as the Committee may specify) in which the
Optionee  represents  and warrants  that the Optionee is purchasing or acquiring
the shares  acquired under this  Agreement for the  Optionee's own account,  for
investment only and not with a view to the resale or distribution  thereof,  and
represents and agrees that any subsequent  offer for sale or distribution of any
of such  shares  shall  be made  only  pursuant  to  either  (i) a  registration
statement on an appropriate  form under the Securities  Act, which  registration
statement  has become  effective  and is current with regard to the shares being
offered or sold, or (ii) a specific exemption from the registration requirements
of the Securities Act, but in claiming such exemption the Optionee shall,  prior
to any offer for sale or sale of such shares,  obtain a prior favorable  written
opinion, in form and substance  satisfactory to the Committee,  from counsel for
or approved by the Committee, as to the applicability of such exemption thereto.

               5. Disposition  of  Stock.  Any shares of Stock  received  by the
Optionee  upon exercise of this Option (or any interest or right in such shares)
cannot  be sold,  assigned,  pledged  or  transferred  in any  manner  except as
permitted by the Stockholders Agreement.

               6. Optionee Bound by Plan; Stockholders  Agreement.  The Optionee
hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and the Stockholders Agreement
and agrees to be bound by all of the terms and provisions thereof, including the
terms and provisions  adopted after the granting of this Option but prior to the
complete  exercise  hereof,  subject to the last  paragraph of Section 16 of the
Plan as in effect on the date hereof.

               7. Notices.  Any   notice  hereunder  to  the  Company  shall  be
addressed to it at c/o McCown De Leeuw & Co., 101 East 52nd Street,  31st Floor,
New York, New York 10022, Attention: David King, and any notice hereunder to the
Optionee  shall be  addressed  to him at 2015 Kings  Pointe  Drive,  St.  Louis,
Missouri  63005,  subject to the right of either  party to designate at any time
hereafter in writing some other address.

               8.   Governing  Law.  This  Agreement  shall  be governed  by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

               9.   Counterparts.   This  Agreement  has  been executed  in  two
counterparts each of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.



               IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Outsourcing  Solutions Inc. has caused this
Agreement to be executed by an appropriate officer and the Optionee has executed
this Agreement, both on the day and year first above written.

               OUTSOURCING SOLUTIONS INC.

               By:
                  ---------------------------------

               Title:
                     ------------------------------

OPTIONEE


________________________(L.S.)



<PAGE>



                                                                      SCHEDULE I

Subject to paragraph (b) of Section 2 of the Agreement, the Option will vest and
become  exercisable in accordance with paragraph (1) below with respect to fifty
percent  (50%) of the shares of Stock  subject to the Option and the Option will
vest and become  exercisable in accordance with paragraph (2) below with respect
to the  remaining  fifty  percent  (50%) of the  shares of Stock  subject to the
Option.

               (1) With  respect  to 50% of the  shares of Stock  subject to the
Option:  Subject to the achievement of annual performance targets established by
the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") or the Committee (as defined
in the Agreement) in consultation  with  management,  this portion of the Option
will vest evenly on an annual basis over five (5) years beginning on the date of
the Agreement,  i.e.,  with respect to 20% of the total number of shares subject
to this portion of the Option in each year (the "Annual Option Allocation").

50% of the Annual Option  Allocation  not vested in any year would be subject to
catch-up  vesting in the immediately  following year, based upon the achievement
of the performance targets applicable to such immediately following year, and to
the extent  such  Annual  Option  Allocation  does not vest in such  immediately
following  year, it shall be forfeited and the Option shall never be exercisable
with  respect to the  shares  covered by such  unvested  portion of such  Annual
Option Allocation;  provided,  however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Option  may  become  exercisable  with  respect  to such  shares  to the  extent
otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of Section 2 of the Agreement.

               (2) With  respect  to 50% of the  shares of Stock  subject to the
Option:  This  portion  of  the  Option  will  vest  upon  the  occurrence  of a
"Liquidation  Event"  (as  defined  below),  subject to the  achievement  by the
Company of McCown De Leeuw & Co. ("MDC") internal rate of return ("IRR") targets
according to the schedule set forth below :



<PAGE>




================================================================================
                                         Year
             -------------------------------------------------------------------
                           1           2            3         4          5
             -------------------------------------------------------------------
             25.00%      0.00%       0.00%        0.00%     20.00%     40.00%
             -------------------------------------------------------------------
             30.00%      0.00%       0.00%       20.00%     40.00%     60.00%
             -------------------------------------------------------------------
MDC IRR*     35.00%      0.00%      20.00%       40.00%     60.00%     80.00%
             -------------------------------------------------------------------
             40.00%     20.00%      40.00%       60.00%     80.00%    100.00%
             -------------------------------------------------------------------
             45.00%     40.00%      60.00%       80.00%    100.00%
             -------------------------------------------------------------------
             50.00%     60.00%      80.00%      100.00%
             -------------------------------------------------------------------
             55.00%     60.00%     100.00%
             -------------------------------------------------------------------
             75.00%     80.00%
             -------------------------------------------------------------------
             100.00%    100.00%
             ===================================================================
             *After giving effect to exercise of management options.
             ===================================================================

For purposes of this Agreement,  "Liquidation Event" shall mean a sale by MDC of
any of its shares of common stock of the Company to an unaffiliated  third party
(including,  without limitation, in a public offering). Upon a Liquidation Event
in which MDC sells less than all of its shares of common  stock of the  Company,
this  portion of the Option  will  partially  vest and  become  exercisable,  in
accordance  with the  foregoing  schedule,  on a ratable  basis  based  upon the
proportion  of MDC shares sold in the  Liquidation  Event  relative to the total
number of shares owned by MDC immediately prior to the Liquidation Event.



<PAGE>



                                                                     SCHEDULE II




                        NOTATIONS AS TO PARTIAL EXERCISE



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                   Number of       Balance of
    Date of        Purchased       Shares on        Authorized       Notation
    Exercise        Shares           Option         Signature          Date
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