N.E.W. Recognized By J.D. Power and Associates for the Second Consecutive Year For Providing An Outstanding Customer Service Experience

Business Wire, March 28, 2006

DULLES, Va. -- N.E.W. Customer Service Companies, Inc., (NEW) the nation's leading provider of extended service contracts and buyer protection programs for consumer products, has been recognized by J.D. Power and Associates for the second consecutive year for Call Center Customer Satisfaction Excellence. NEW continues to set the pace in the service plan industry, as they were the first company to be certified by the J.D. Power and Associates Certified Call Center Program(SM). This distinction acknowledges a strong commitment by NEW's call center operation to provide "An Outstanding Customer Service Experience".

"We are very pleased to be recognized by J.D. Power and Associates for the second consecutive year. This recognition shows our sustained commitment to delivering outstanding service on behalf of our clients and is a testament to the unwavering commitment to service excellence of our call center employees," said Fred Schaufeld, chairman and CEO of NEW.

NEW's call center operations experienced tremendous growth this past year - adding 2 new centers and a 32% increase in the number of employees. Commenting on this growth Mr. Schaufeld said, "In a year of explosive growth, our centers were able to notably exceed the national benchmark for satisfaction. Being recertified exemplifies our centers' ability to grow and continue to train and motivate employees to take great care of the customer."

NEW's call centers handled more than 10.5 million telephone, e-mail and fax interactions in 2005. The call center operation successfully passed a detailed audit of recruiting, training, employee incentives, management roles and responsibilities and quality assurance capabilities. In addition, J.D. Power and Associates conducted a random survey of consumers who had recently contacted any of NEW's call centers. Those customers gave NEW high ratings, exceeding the satisfaction ratings achieved in NEW's first certification from J.D. Power and Associates.

The evaluation criteria used in the survey included: courtesy of the customer service representative (CSR); knowledge of the CSR; the CSR's concern for the customer questions and/or problem; usefulness of the information provided; convenience of customer service operating hours; ease of getting through to a CSR; and the timely resolution of the customer's problem, question or request. Certification is valid for one year.

About NEW

N.E.W. Customer Service Companies Inc. (NEW) (www.newcorp.com) is the nation's leading provider of extended service plans, buyer protection services and product support for businesses and consumers. With more than 20 years experience, NEW provides exceptional post-sale consumer care for many of the nation's largest retailers, manufacturers, utilities and financial services firms, providing coverage last year to more than 100 million consumers. Through its commitment to customer care, NEW delivers ongoing revenue, unrivaled customer support, seamless service administration and the competitive edge needed to succeed in a rapidly changing marketplace. This philosophy has positioned the company as the leader in the marketing and administration of extended service plans and other value-added buyer protection and information services.

NEW is headquartered in Dulles, VA, and operates eight communication centers across the United States. NEW has more than 2,400 employees nationwide. For more information, please visit NEW at www.newcorp.com or call 1-800 WHAT'S NEW (1-800-942-8763).

For J.D. Power and Associates Certified Call Center Program(SM) information, visit www.jdpower.com or call 1-888-842-7548.