Asta Funding (ASFI) 10-Q 10 Feb 14 2014 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 08, 2013
Document Information [Line Items]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q1	'
Trading Symbol	'ASFI	'
Entity Registrant Name	'ASTA FUNDING INC	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001001258	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--09-30	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	12,974,239

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
ASSETS	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$36,103,000	$35,179,000
Available for sale investments	58,479,000	58,035,000
Restricted cash	948,000	968,000
Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation (at net realizable value)	55,131,000	57,900,000
Structured settlements	30,436,000	'
Investment in personal injury claims	30,489,000	35,758,000
Due from third party collection agencies and attorneys	679,000	1,169,000
Prepaid and income taxes receivable	251,000	1,496,000
Furniture and equipment, net	956,000	1,106,000
Deferred income taxes	10,132,000	10,443,000
Goodwill	2,770,000	1,410,000
Other assets	4,721,000	4,383,000
Total assets	231,095,000	207,847,000
LIABILITIES	'	'
Non-recourse debt - Bank of Montreal	33,132,000	35,760,000
Other debt - CBC (including non-recourse notes payable amounting to $13.8 million at December 31, 2013)	23,363,000	'
Other liabilities	2,106,000	2,486,000
Total liabilities	58,601,000	38,246,000
Commitments and contingencies	'	'
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	'	'
Preferred stock, $.01 par value; authorized 5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding - none	'	'
Common stock, $.01 par value; authorized 30,000,000 shares; issued - 14,917,977 at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013; and outstanding 12,974,239 at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013	149,000	149,000
Additional paid-in capital	79,522,000	79,104,000
Retained earnings	111,400,000	109,011,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-755,000	-674,000
Treasury stock (at cost), 1,943,738 shares at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013	-17,805,000	-17,805,000
Non-controlling interest	-17,000	-184,000
Total stockholders' equity	172,494,000	169,601,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$231,095,000	$207,847,000

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Other debt, non-recourse notes payable	$13,767,000	'
Preferred stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	'	'
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	'	'
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	30,000,000	30,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	14,917,977	14,917,977
Common stock, shares outstanding	12,974,239	12,974,239
Treasury stock, shares	1,943,738	1,943,738

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues	'		'
Finance income, net	$6,915,000	[1]	$8,490,000	[2]
Other income (includes ($25,000) and $175,000 during the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, of accumulated other comprehensive income reclassification for unrealized net (losses) / gains on available for sale securities)	3,322,000		2,062,000
Total Revenue	10,237,000		10,552,000
Expenses	'		'
General and administrative	5,767,000		5,593,000
Interest expense	9,000		569,000
Total expenses	5,776,000		6,162,000
Income before income taxes	4,461,000		4,390,000
Income tax expense (includes tax benefit / (expense) of $10,000 and ($71,000) during the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, of accumulated other comprehensive income reclassifications for unrealized net (losses) / gains on available for sale securities)	1,623,000		1,757,000
Net income	2,838,000		2,633,000
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest	449,000		45,000
Net income attributable to Asta Funding, Inc.	$2,389,000		$2,588,000
Net income per share attributable to Asta Funding, Inc.:	'		'
Basic	$0.18		$0.20
Diluted	$0.18		$0.20
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:	'		'
Basic	12,974,239		12,941,242
Diluted	13,200,084		13,200,116
[1]	Includes $6.8 million derived from fully amortized pools.
[2]	Includes $8.1 million derived from fully amortized pools.

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Reclassifications for unrealized net (losses) / gains on available for sale securities	($25,000)	$175,000
Income tax expense, tax benefit / (expense)	$10,000	($71,000)

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Comprehensive income is as follows:	'	'
Net income	$2,838,000	$2,633,000
Net unrealized securities loss, net of tax benefit of $58,000 and $288,000 during the 3 month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively	-66,000	-419,000
Reclassification adjustments for securities sold during the period, net of tax benefit / (expense) of $10,000 and ($71,000) for the 3 months ended December 2013 and 2012, respectively	-15,000	98,000
Other comprehensive loss	-81,000	-321,000
Total comprehensive income	$2,757,000	$2,312,000

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Net unrealized securities (loss) gain,(taxes)/tax benefit	$58,000	$288,000
Reclassification adjustments for securities, tax benefit / (expense)	$10,000	($71,000)

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme4

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock		Non- Controlling Interest
Beginning balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$169,601,000	$149,000	$79,104,000	$109,011,000	($674,000)	($17,805,000)	[1]	($184,000)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2013	'	14,917,977	'	'	'	'		'
Stock based compensation expense	418,000	'	418,000	'	'	'		'
Net income	2,838,000	'	'	2,389,000	'	'		449,000
Unrealized loss on marketable securities	-81,000	'	'	'	-81,000	'		'
Distributions to non-controlling interest	-282,000	'	'	'	'	'		-282,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$172,494,000	$149,000	$79,522,000	$111,400,000	($755,000)	($17,805,000)	[1]	($17,000)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	'	14,917,977	'	'	'	'		'
[1]	Treasury shares are as follows: September 30, 2013, 1,923,738; December 31, 2013, 1,923,738.

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme5

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical)	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Treasury stock, shares	1,923,738	1,923,738

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme6

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'
Net income	$2,838,000	$2,633,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	150,000	150,000
Deferred income taxes	379,000	379,000
Stock based compensation	418,000	439,000
Loss / (gain) on sale of available-for-sale securities	25,000	-175,000
Changes in:	'	'
Prepaid and income taxes receivable	1,245,000	1,349,000
Due from third party collection agencies and attorneys	490,000	959,000
Other assets	-327,000	-475,000
Other liabilities	-736,000	-446,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	4,482,000	4,813,000
Cash flows from investing activities	'	'
Purchase of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation	-520,000	'
Principal collected on receivables acquired for liquidation	3,289,000	5,114,000
Principal collected on receivables accounts represented by account sales	'	5,000
Purchase of available-for-sale securities	-5,618,000	-23,674,000
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities	5,000,000	23,208,000
Proceeds from maturities of certificates of deposit	'	13,900,000
Cash paid for acquisition (net of cash acquired)	-5,588,000	'
Investments in personal injury claims - advances	-4,519,000	-7,597,000
Investments in personal injury claims - receipts	9,788,000	3,193,000
Capital expenditures	'	-674,000
Net cash provided by investing activities	1,832,000	13,475,000
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	'	11,000
Changes in restricted cash	20,000	361,000
Distribution to non-controlling interest	-282,000	'
Repayment of non-recourse debt - Bank of Montreal	-2,628,000	-2,620,000
Repayment of other debt - CBC	-2,500,000	'
Dividends paid	'	-1,290,000
Purchase of treasury stock	'	-1,386,000
Net cash used in financing activities	-5,390,000	-4,924,000
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	924,000	13,364,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	35,179,000	4,953,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	36,103,000	18,317,000
Cash paid for:	'	'
Interest	10,000	572,000
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities:	'	'
Structured settlements	30,436,000	'
Other debt - CBC	$23,363,000	'

Business_and_Basis_of_Presenta

Business and Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Business and Basis of Presentation	'
	Note 1 — Business and Basis of Presentation
	Business
	Asta Funding, Inc., together with its wholly owned significant operating subsidiaries Palisades Collection LLC, Palisades Acquisition XVI, LLC (“Palisades XVI”), VATIV Recovery Solutions LLC (“VATIV”), ASFI Pegasus Holdings, LLC (“APH”), Fund Pegasus, LLC (“Fund Pegasus”), AGR Disability Help Center, LLC (“AGR-DHC”) and other subsidiaries, not all wholly owned (collectively, the “Company”), is engaged in the business of purchasing, managing for its own account and servicing distressed consumer receivables, including charged-off receivables, semi-performing receivables and performing receivables. The primary charged-off receivables are accounts that have been written-off by the originators and may have been previously serviced by collection agencies. Semi-performing receivables are accounts where the debtor is currently making partial or irregular monthly payments, but the accounts may have been written-off by the originators. Performing receivables are accounts where the debtor is making regular monthly payments that may or may not have been delinquent in the past. Distressed consumer receivables are the unpaid debts of individuals to banks, finance companies and other credit providers. A large portion of the Company’s distressed consumer receivables are MasterCard®, Visa®, other credit card accounts, and telecommunication accounts which were charged-off by the issuers for non-payment. The Company acquires these portfolios at substantial discounts from their face values. The discounts are based on the characteristics (issuer, account size, debtor residence and age of debt) of the underlying accounts of each portfolio. Litigation related receivables are semi-performing investments whereby the Company is assigned the revenue stream from the proceeds received.
	The Company owns 80% of Pegasus Funding, LLC (“Pegasus”), which invests in funding personal injury claims and 80% of newly-acquired CBC Settlement Funding, LLC (“CBC”), which invests in structured settlements (see Note 5: Acquisition of CBC).
	AGR-DHC is a disability advocacy group, assisting disabled individuals filing claims for disability benefits under the Social Security Act, from the filing of a claim to disability claim hearings and, if necessary, the appeals process.
	Basis of Presentation
	The condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2013, the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the condensed consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity as of and for the three months ended December 31, 2013 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, are unaudited. The September 30, 2013 financial information included in this report has been extracted from our audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly our financial position at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, the results of operations for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and cash flows for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 have been made. The results of operations for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for any other interim period or the full fiscal year.
	Palisades XVI is a variable interest entity (“VIE”). Asta Funding, Inc. is considered the primary beneficiary because it has the power to direct the significant activities of the VIE via its ownership and service contract. It also has the rights to receive benefits from the collections that exceed the payments to Bank of Montreal. Palisades XVI holds the Great Seneca portfolio of $40.9 million and the Bank of Montreal loan of $33.1 million as of December 31, 2013.
	Blue Bell Receivables I, LLC, Blue Bell Receivables II, LLC and Blue Bell Receivables III, LLC (the “Blue Bell Entities”) are VIEs. CBC is considered the primary beneficiary because it has the power to direct the significant activities of the VIEs via its ownership and service contract. It also has the rights to receive benefits from the collections that exceed the payments to the note holders. The Blue Bell Entities hold structured settlements of $15.5 million and the non-recourse notes payable of $13.8 million as of December 31, 2013.
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and therefore do not include all information and note disclosures required under generally accepted accounting principles. The Company suggests that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates including management’s estimates of future cash flows and the resulting rates of return.
	Concentration of Credit Risk - Cash
	Cash balances are maintained at various depository institutions and are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). The Company had cash balances with seven banks at December 31, 2013 that exceeded the balance insured by the FDIC by approximately $32.1 million. The Company had cash balances with three banks which amounted to approximately $31.3 million as of December 31, 2013.
	Subsequent Events
	The Company has evaluated events and transactions occurring subsequent to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet date of December 31, 2013, for items that should potentially be recognized or disclosed in these financial statements. The Company did not identify any items which would require disclosure in or adjustment to the Financial Statements, except as indicated in Note 19.
	Reclassifications
	Certain items in the prior period’s financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation, primarily related to certain balance sheet and cash flow items.

Principles_of_Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Principles of Consolidation	'
	Note 2 — Principles of Consolidation
	The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Investments

Investments	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Investments	'
	Note 3 — Investments
	Available-for-Sale
	Investments classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, consist of the following:
		Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized			Fair
		Cost		Gains		Losses			Value
	31-Dec-13	$	59,744,000	$	—	$	(1,265,000	)	$	58,479,000
	30-Sep-13	$	59,151,000	$	27,000	$	(1,143,000	)	$	58,035,000
	The available-for-sale investments do not have any contractual maturities. The Company sold one investment during the first quarter of fiscal year 2014, with an aggregate realized loss of $25,000. Additionally, the Company received $186,000 in capital gains distributions during the first quarter of fiscal year 2014. The Company recorded a total of $161,000 in realized gain related to its available-for sale investments during the first quarter of fiscal year 2014. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2013, the Company sold two investments with an aggregate realized gain of $175,000 and also received $225,000 in capital gains distributions during that quarter. The Company recorded an aggregate realized gain of $400,000 related to its available-for-sale securities during the first quarter of fiscal year 2013.
	At December 31, 2013, there were six investments, all in an unrealized loss position, four of which had current unrealized losses that had existed for 12 months or more. All of these securities are considered to be acceptable credit risks. Based on the evaluation of the available evidence, including recent changes in market rates and credit rating information, management believes the aggregate decline in fair value for these instruments is temporary. In addition, management has the ability to hold these investment securities for a period of time sufficient to allow for an anticipated recovery or maturity. Should the impairment of any of these securities become other than temporary, the cost basis of the investment will be reduced and the resulting loss recognized in net income in the period in which the other-than-temporary impairment is identified.

Consumer_Receivables_Acquired_

Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation	'
	Note 4 — Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation
	Accounts acquired for liquidation are stated at their net estimated realizable value and consist primarily of defaulted consumer loans to individuals primarily throughout the United States.
	The Company accounts for its investments in consumer receivable portfolios, using either:
		•		the interest method; or
		•		the cost recovery method.
	The Company accounts for its investment in finance receivables using the interest method under the guidance of FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), Receivables — Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality, (“ASC 310”). Under the guidance of ASC 310, static pools of accounts are established. These pools are aggregated based on certain common risk criteria. Each static pool is recorded at cost and is accounted for as a single unit for the recognition of income, principal payments and loss provision.
	Once a static pool is established for a quarter, individual receivable accounts are not added to the pool (unless replaced by the seller) or removed from the pool (unless sold or returned to the seller). ASC 310 requires that the excess of the contractual cash flows over expected cash flows not be recognized as an adjustment of revenue or expense or on the balance sheet. ASC 310 initially freezes the internal rate of return, referred to as IRR, estimated when the accounts receivable are purchased, as the basis for subsequent impairment testing. Significant increases in actual or expected future cash flows may be recognized prospectively through an upward adjustment of the IRR over a portfolio’s remaining life. Any increase to the IRR then becomes the new benchmark for impairment testing. Rather than lowering the estimated IRR if the collection estimates are not received or projected to be received, the carrying value of a pool would be impaired, or written down to maintain the then current IRR. Under the interest method, income is recognized on the effective yield method based on the actual cash collected during a period and future estimated cash flows and timing of such collections and the portfolio’s cost. Revenue arising from collections in excess of anticipated amounts attributable to timing differences is deferred until such time as a review results in a change in the expected cash flows. The estimated future cash flows are reevaluated quarterly.
	The Company uses the cost recovery method when collections on a particular pool of accounts cannot be reasonably predicted. Under the cost recovery method, no income is recognized until the cost of the portfolio has been fully recovered. A pool can become fully amortized (zero carrying balance on the balance sheet) while still generating cash collections. In this case, all cash collections are recognized as revenue when received.
	The Company’s extensive liquidating experience is in the field of distressed credit card receivables, telecommunication receivables, consumer loan receivables, retail installment contracts, consumer receivables, and auto deficiency receivables. The Company uses the interest method for accounting for asset acquisitions within these classes of receivables when it believes it can reasonably estimate the timing of the cash flows. In those situations where the Company diversifies its acquisitions into other asset classes and the Company does not possess the same expertise, or the Company cannot reasonably estimate the timing of the cash flows, the Company utilizes the cost recovery method of accounting for those portfolios of receivables. At December 31, 2013, approximately $7.5 million of the consumer receivables acquired for liquidation are accounted for using the interest method, while approximately $47.6 million are accounted for using the cost recovery method, of which $40.9 million is concentrated in one portfolio, a $300 million portfolio purchase in March 2007 (the “Portfolio Purchase”).
	The Company aggregates portfolios of receivables acquired sharing specific common characteristics which were acquired within a given quarter. The Company currently considers for aggregation portfolios of accounts, purchased within the same fiscal quarter, that generally meet the following characteristics:
		•		same issuer/originator;
		•		same underlying credit quality;
		•		similar geographic distribution of the accounts;
		•		similar age of the receivable; and
		•		same type of asset class (credit cards, telecommunication, etc.)
	The Company uses a variety of qualitative and quantitative factors to estimate collections and the timing thereof. This analysis includes the following variables:
		•		the number of collection agencies previously attempting to collect the receivables in the portfolio;
		•		the average balance of the receivables, as higher balances might be more difficult to collect while low balances might not be cost effective to collect;
		•		the age of the receivables, as older receivables might be more difficult to collect or might be less cost effective. On the other hand, the passage of time, in certain circumstances, might result in higher collections due to changing life events of some individual debtors;
		•		past history of performance of similar assets;
		•		time since charge-off;
		•		payments made since charge-off;
		•		the credit originator and its credit guidelines;
		•		our ability to analyze accounts and resell accounts that meet our criteria for resale;
		•		the locations of the debtors, as there are better states to attempt to collect in and ultimately the Company has better predictability of the liquidations and the expected cash flows. Conversely, there are also states where the liquidation rates are not as favorable and that is factored into our cash flow analysis;
		•		financial condition of the seller
		•		jobs or property of the debtors found within portfolios. In the Company’s business model, this is of particular importance as debtors with jobs or property are more likely to repay their obligation and conversely, debtors without jobs or property are less likely to repay their obligation; and
		•		the ability to obtain timely customer statements from the original issuer.
	The Company obtains and utilizes, as appropriate, input, including but not limited to monthly collection projections and liquidation rates, from third party collection agencies and attorneys, as a further evidentiary matter, to assist in evaluating and developing collection strategies and in evaluating and modeling the expected cash flows for a given portfolio.
	The following tables summarize the changes in the balance sheet account of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation during the following periods:
			For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013
						Cost
			Interest			Recovery
			Method			Method			Total
	Balance, beginning of period		$	8,071,000		$	49,829,000		$	57,900,000
	Acquisitions of receivable portfolio			—			520,000			520,000
	Net cash collections from collection of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation			(6,748,000	)		(3,455,000	)		(10,203,000	)
	Net cash collections represented by account sales of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation			(1,000	)		—			(1,000	)
	Finance income recognized (1)			6,231,000			684,000			6,915,000
	Balance, end of period		$	7,553,000		$	47,578,000		$	55,131,000
	Finance income as a percentage of collections			92.3	%		19.8	%		67.8	%
	-1	Includes $6.8 million derived from fully amortized pools.
			For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2012
						Cost
			Interest			Recovery
			Method			Method			Total
	Balance, beginning of period		$	12,326,000		$	74,561,000		$	86,887,000
	Net cash collections from collection of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation			(9,473,000	)		(4,126,000	)		(13,599,000	)
	Net cash collections represented by account sales of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation			(10,000	)		—			(10,000	)
	Finance income recognized (1)			7,629,000			861,000			8,490,000
	Balance, end of period		$	10,472,000		$	71,296,000		$	81,768,000
	Finance income as a percentage of collections			80.5	%		20.9	%		62.4	%
	-1	Includes $8.1 million derived from fully amortized pools.
	As of December 31, 2013, the Company had $55.1 million in consumer receivables acquired for liquidation, of which $7.5 million are accounted for on the interest method. Based upon current projections, net cash collections, applied to principal for interest method portfolios will be as follows for the twelve months in the periods ending:
	September 30, 2014 (nine months remaining)		$	3,839,000
	September 30, 2015			1,047,000
	September 30, 2016			812,000
	September 30, 2017			645,000
	September 30, 2018			546,000
	September 30, 2019			441,000
	September 30, 2020			223,000
	Total		$	7,553,000
	Accretable yield represents the amount of income the Company can expect to generate over the remaining life of its existing portfolios based on estimated future net cash flows as of December 31, 2013. There were no accretable yield adjustments in the first quarter of fiscal years 2014 and 2013. Changes in accretable yield for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
		Three Months			Three Months
		Ended			Ended
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
Balance at beginning of period		$	1,116,000		$	2,086,000
Income recognized on finance receivables, net			(6,231,000	)		(7,629,000	)
Additions representing expected revenue from purchases			—			—
Reclassifications from nonaccretable difference (1)			6,096,000			7,265,000
Balance at end of period		$	981,000		$	1,722,000
-1	Includes portfolios that became zero basis during the period, removal of zero basis portfolios from the accretable yield calculation and other immaterial impairments and accretions based on the extension of certain collection curves.
During the three months ended December 31, 2013, the Company purchased $8.6 million of face value portfolios at a cost of $0.5 million, which are accounted for on the cost recovery method. There were no portfolio purchases during the three months ended December 31, 2012.
The following table summarizes collections on a gross basis as received by the Company’s third-party collection agencies and attorneys, less commissions and direct costs for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
		For the Three Months Ended
		December 31,
		2013			2012
Gross collections (1)		$	17,325,000		$	22,086,000
Commissions and fees (2)			7,121,000			8,477,000
Net collections		$	10,204,000		$	13,609,000
-1	Gross collections include: collections from third-party collection agencies and attorneys, collections from in-house efforts, and collections represented by account sales.
-2	Commissions and fees are the contractual commission earned by third party collection agencies and attorneys, and direct costs associated with the collection effort, generally court costs. Includes a 3% fee charged by a servicer on gross collections received by the Company in connection with the Portfolio Purchase. Such arrangement was consummated in December 2007. The fee is charged for asset location, skip tracing and ultimately suing debtors in connection with this portfolio purchase.

Acquisition_of_CBC

Acquisition of CBC	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Acquisition of CBC	'
	Note 5 — Acquisition of CBC
	On December 31, 2013, the Company acquired 80% ownership of CBC and its affiliate, CBC Management Services, LLC for approximately $5.9 million. In addition, the Company will provide financing to CBC of up to $5 million. The 20% non-controlling interests are held by certain former owners. The fair value of non-controlling interests at the acquisition date was determined to be immaterial. The noncontrolling interests will not be entitled to any distributions from CBC until the Company receives distributions of $2,337,190. The noncontrolling interests are entitled to two of the five seats of CBC’s Board of Managers and have the right to approve certain material transactions of CBC. The noncontrolling interests owners are employed by CBC. If the employment is terminated, other than for cause, CBC could be required to purchase their membership interest in CBC. If the employment is terminated for any other reason, CBC has the right to purchase their noncontrolling interests. The purchase price would be determined by a third party appraiser and is payable over a period of time.
	CBC purchases periodic structured settlements and annuity policies from individuals in exchange for a lump sum payment. The Company accounted for this purchase in accordance with ASC Topic 805 “Business Combinations”. Under this guidance, an entity is required to recognize the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the consideration given at their fair value on the acquisition date. The following table summarizes the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed as of the December 31, 2013 acquisition date:
	Cash	$	351,000
	Structured settlements		30,436,000
	Other assets		11,000
	Other liabilities		(356,000	)
	Other debt - CBC (including non-recourse notes payable amounting to $13.8 million) (see Note 10: Other debt-CBC)		(25,863,000	)
	Total identifiable net assets acquired		4,579,000
	Goodwill (see Note 8: Goodwill)		1,360,000
	Purchase Price	$	5,939,000
	As the transaction consummated on December 31, 2013, there were no actual operational results that were accretive to the Company in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 and the comparable period of fiscal year 2013. Unaudited results of operations have been prepared as if the acquisition of CBC occurred at the beginning of the fiscal period. Total revenues, as reported, for the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 were $10,237,000. On a pro forma basis, total revenues would have been $11,329,000. Net income attributable to Asta Funding, Inc., as reported, was $2,389,000. On a pro forma basis, net income attributable to Asta Funding, Inc. would have been $2,431,000. Total revenues, as reported, for the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 were $10,552,000. On a pro forma basis, total revenues would have been $11,560,000. Net income attributable to Asta Funding, Inc., as reported, was $2,588,000. On a pro forma basis, net income attributable to Asta Funding, Inc. would have been $2,650,000.
	The acquisition provides the Company with the opportunity to further diversify its portfolio.

Other_Investments

Other Investments	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Other Investments	'
	Note 6 — Other Investments
	Personal Injury Claims
	Pegasus purchases interests in personal injury claims from claimants who are a party to personal injury litigation. Pegasus advances to each claimant funds on a non-recourse basis at an agreed upon interest rate, in anticipation of a future settlement. The interest in each claim purchased by Pegasus consists of the right to receive, from such claimant, part of the proceeds or recoveries which such claimant receives by reason of a settlement, judgment or award with respect to such claimant’s claim. The Company, through Pegasus, earned $2.8 million and $1.2 million in interest and fees during the first quarter of fiscal years 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company had a net invested balance of $30.5 million and $23.0 million on December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The collections yielded net income attributable to non-controlling interest of $449,000 and $45,000 for the three month periods ending December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Pegasus records reserves for bad debts, which, at December 31, 2013, amounted to $1.9 million.
	Matrimonial Claims (included in Other Assets)
	On May 18, 2012, the Company formed BP Case Management, LLC (“BPCM”), a joint venture with California-based Balance Point Divorce Funding, LLC (“BP Divorce Funding”). BPCM provides non-recourse funding to a spouse in a matrimonial action. The Company provided a $1.0 million revolving line of credit to partially fund BP Divorce Funding’s operations, with such loan bearing interest at the prevailing prime rate, with an initial term of twenty-four months. The revolving line of credit is collateralized by BP Divorce Funding’s profit share in BPCM and other assets. As of December 31, 2013, the Company’s investment in cases through BPCM was approximately $1.9 million. There was no income recognized in either the first quarter of fiscal years 2014 and 2013.

Furniture_Equipment

Furniture & Equipment	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Furniture & Equipment	'
	Note 7 — Furniture & Equipment
	Furniture and equipment consist of the following as of the dates indicated:
		December 31,		September 30,
		2013		2013
	Furniture	$	310,000	$	310,000
	Equipment		3,622,000		3,622,000
	Software		1,211,000		1,211,000
	Leasehold improvements		99,000		99,000
			5,242,000		5,242,000
	Less accumulated depreciation		4,286,000		4,136,000
	Balance, end of period	$	956,000	$	1,106,000

Goodwill

Goodwill	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill	'
	Note 8 – Goodwill
	Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of an acquired business over the fair value of amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment if events or circumstances indicate that an impairment may be present. Any excess in carrying value over the estimated fair value is recorded as impairment loss and charged to results of operations in the period such determination is made. For each of the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, management has determined that there was no impairment loss required to be recognized in the carrying value of goodwill.
	The goodwill balances at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013 are as follows:
	Balance, September 30, 2013	$	1,410,000
	Goodwill from acquisition (see Note 5: Acquisition of CBC)		1,360,000
	Balance, December 31, 2013	$	2,770,000

Non_Recourse_Debt_Bank_of_Mont

Non Recourse Debt - Bank of Montreal	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Non Recourse Debt - Bank of Montreal	'
	Note 9 — Non Recourse Debt — Bank of Montreal
	In March 2007, Palisades XVI borrowed approximately $227 million under the Receivables Financing Agreement, as amended in July 2007, December 2007, May 2008, February 2009, October 2010 and August 2013 from Bank of Montreal (“BMO”), in order to finance the Portfolio Purchase which had a purchase price of $300 million. The original term of the agreement was three years. This term was extended by each of the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth Amendments and the most recent agreement signed in August 2013.
	Since the inception of the Receivables Financing Agreement amendments have been signed to revise various terms of the Receivables Financing Agreement. Currently, the Settlement Agreement and Omnibus Amendment (“Settlement Agreement”) is in effect on August 7, 2013, Palisades XVI, a 100% owned bankruptcy remote subsidiary, entered into a Settlement Agreement with BMO as an amendment to the Receivables Financing Agreement. In consideration for a $15 million prepayment funded by the Company, BMO has agreed to significantly reduce minimum monthly collection requirements and the interest rate. If and when BMO receives the next $15 million of collections from the Portfolio Purchase, less certain credits for payments made prior to the consummation of the Settlement Agreement, the Company is entitled to recover from future net collections the $15 million prepayment that it funded. Thereafter, BMO will have the right to receive 30% of future net collections.
	The aggregate minimum repayment obligations required under the Settlement Amendment, including interest and principal, for the fiscal years ending September 30, 2014 (9 months) and 2015 is $3.4 million and $3.6 million, respectively.
	On December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, the outstanding balance on this loan was approximately $33.1 million and $35.8 million, respectively. The applicable interest rate at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, was 0.42% and 0.43%, respectively. The average interest rate of the Receivable Financing Agreement was 0.42% and 3.71% for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company’s average debt obligation for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $34.2 million and $60.0 million, respectively.

Other_Debt_CBC

Other Debt - CBC	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Other Debt - CBC	'
	Note 10 — Other Debt - CBC
	The Company assumed $25.9 million of debt related to the CBC acquisition (see Note 5) on December 31, 2013. On the same date, the Company paid down $2.5 million of the debt. As of December 31, 2013, the remaining debt amounted to $23.4 million, which consists of $9.6 million from a line of credit from an institutional source and $13.8 million non-recourse notes issued by entities 100%-owned and consolidated by CBC. These entities are bankruptcy-remote entities created to issue notes secured by structured settlements. The following table details the other debt at December 31, 2013:
		Interest Rate			December 31,
					2013 Balance
	Non-recourse, notes payable with varying monthly installments:
	Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with principal and interest outstanding payable until June 2025		8.75	%	$	2,776,000
	Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with principal and interest outstanding payable until August 2026		7.25	%		5,884,000
	Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with principal and interest outstanding payable until April 2032		7.125	%		5,107,000
	Subtotal notes payable					13,767,000
	$12,500,000 revolving line of credit, $2,904,000 available as of December 31, 2013, interest terms are prime + 1% with floor of 5.5%, expiring on September 30, 2014		5.5	%		9,596,000
	Total debt – CBC				$	23,363,000

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	Note 11— Commitments and Contingencies
	Employment Agreements
	In January 2007, the Company entered into an employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) with Gary Stern, its Chairman, President and Chief Executive, which expired on December 31, 2009. This Employment Agreement was not renewed and Mr. Stern is continuing in his current roles at the discretion of the Board of Directors until a new agreement is signed. The Company intends to negotiate a new employment agreement with Mr. Stern during fiscal year 2014. The two CBC operating principals entered into renewable two-year employment contracts at the time of acquisition (see Note 5: Acquisition of CBC).
	Leases
	The Company leases its facilities in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Houston, Texas and New York, New York. Please refer to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for additional information. Upon the acquisition of CBC, the Company is a party to a lease agreement for a facility located in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. The lease expires in August 2014.
	Litigation
	In the ordinary course of its business, the Company is involved in numerous legal proceedings. The Company regularly initiates collection lawsuits, using its network of third party law firms, against consumers. Also, consumers occasionally initiate litigation against the Company, in which they allege that the Company has violated a federal or state law in the process of collecting their account. The Company does not believe that these matters are material to its business or financial condition. The Company is not involved in any material litigation in which it is a defendant.

Income_Recognition_Impairments

Income Recognition, Impairments, and Commissions and Fees	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Recognition, Impairments, and Commissions and Fees	'
	Note 12 — Income Recognition, Impairments, and Commissions and Fees
	Income Recognition
	The Company accounts for its investment in consumer receivables acquired for liquidation using the interest method under the guidance of ASC 310. In ASC 310 static pools of accounts are established. These pools are aggregated based on certain common risk criteria. Each static pool is recorded at cost and is accounted for as a single unit for the recognition of income, principal payments and loss provision.
	Once a static pool is established for a quarter, individual receivable accounts are not added to the pool (unless replaced by the seller) or removed from the pool (unless sold or returned to the seller). ASC 310 requires that the excess of the contractual cash flows over expected cash flows not be recognized as an adjustment of income or expense or on the balance sheet. ASC 310 initially freezes the internal rate of return (“IRR”), estimated when the accounts receivable are purchased, as the basis for subsequent impairment testing. Significant increases in actual, or expected future cash flows may be recognized prospectively through an upward adjustment of the IRR over a portfolio’s remaining life. Any increase to the IRR then becomes the new benchmark for impairment testing. Under ASC 310, rather than lowering the estimated IRR if the collection estimates are not received or projected to be received, the carrying value of a pool would be written down to maintain the then current IRR.
	Finance income is recognized on cost recovery portfolios after the carrying value has been fully recovered through collections or amounts written down.
	The Company accounts for its investments in personal injury claims at an agreed upon interest rate, in anticipation of a future settlement. The interest purchased by Pegasus in each claim consists of the right to receive from such claimant part of the proceeds or recoveries which such claimant receives by reason of a settlement, judgment or reward with respect to such claimant’s claim. Open case revenue is estimated, recognized and accrued at a rate based on the expected realization and underwriting guidelines and facts and circumstances for each individual case. These personal injury claims are non-recourse. When a case is closed and the cash is received for the advance provided to a claimant, income is recognized based upon the contractually agreed upon interest rate, and, if applicable, adjusted for any changes due to a settled amount and fees charged to the claimant.
	The funding of BPCM matrimonial actions is on a non-recourse basis. BPCM income is recognized under the cost recovery method.
	No income was recognized by the Company as of December 31, 2013, as a result of the CBC acquisition, since the consummation date was December 31, 2013. CBC purchases periodic payments under structured settlements and annuity policies from individuals in exchange for a lump sum payment. Income is recognized on the interest method based on the cash flow of the structured settlement.
	Impairments
	The Company accounts for its impairments in accordance with ASC 310, which provides guidance on how to account for differences between contractual and expected cash flows from an investor’s initial investment in loans or debt securities acquired in a transfer if those differences are attributable, at least in part, to credit quality. Increases in expected cash flows are recognized prospectively through an adjustment of the internal rate of return while decreases in expected cash flows are recognized as impairments. ASC 310 makes it more likely that impairment losses and accretable yield adjustments for portfolios’ performances which exceed original collection projections will be recorded, as all downward revisions in collection estimates will result in impairment charges, given the requirement that the IRR of the affected pool be held constant. There were no impairments recorded during the quarters ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.
	The Company’s analysis of the timing and amount of cash flows to be generated by our portfolio purchases are based on the following attributes:
		•	the type of receivable, the location of the debtor and the number of collection agencies previously attempting to collect the receivables in the portfolio. The Company has found that there are better states to try to collect receivables and it factors in both better and worse states when establishing its initial cash flow expectations.
		•	the average balance of the receivables influences our analysis in that lower average balance portfolios tend to be more collectible in the short-term and higher average balance portfolios are more appropriate for our law suit strategy and thus yield better results over the longer term. As the Company has significant experience with both types of balances, it is able to factor these variables into our initial expected cash flows;
		•	the age of the receivables, the number of days since charge-off, any payments since charge-off, and the credit guidelines of the credit originator also represent factors taken into consideration in our estimation process. For example, older receivables might be more difficult and/or require more time and effort to collect;
		•	past history and performance of similar assets acquired. As the Company purchase portfolios of like assets, it accumulates a significant historical data base on the tendencies of debtor repayments and factor this into our initial expected cash flows;
		•	the Company’s ability to analyze accounts and resell accounts that meet its criteria;
		•	jobs or property of the debtors found within portfolios. With our business model, this is of particular importance. Debtors with jobs or property are more likely to repay their obligation through the lawsuit strategy and, conversely, debtors without jobs or property are less likely to repay their obligation. The Company believes that debtors with jobs or property are more likely to repay because courts have mandated the debtor must pay the debt. Ultimately, the debtor with property will pay to clear title or release a lien. The Company also believes that these debtors generally might take longer to repay and that is factored into our initial expected cash flows; and
		•	credit standards of the issuer.
	The Company acquires accounts that have experienced deterioration of credit quality between origination and the date of its acquisition of the accounts. The amount paid for a portfolio of accounts reflects the Company’s determination that it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the portfolio of accounts’ contractual terms. The Company considers the expected payments and estimates the amount and timing of undiscounted expected principal, interest and other cash flows for each acquired portfolio coupled with expected cash flows from accounts available for sales. The excess of this amount over the cost of the portfolio, representing the excess of the accounts’ cash flows expected to be collected over the amount paid, is accreted into income recognized on finance receivables accounted for on the interest method over the expected remaining life of the portfolio.
	The Company believes it has significant experience in acquiring certain distressed consumer receivable portfolios at a significant discount to the amount actually owed by underlying debtors. The Company acquires these portfolios only after both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the underlying receivables are performed and a calculated purchase price is paid so that we believe our estimated cash flow offers us an adequate return on our acquisition costs after our servicing expenses. Additionally, when considering larger portfolio purchases of accounts, or portfolios from issuers with whom the Company has limited experience, it has the added benefit of soliciting its third party collection agencies and attorneys for their input on liquidation rates and, at times, incorporates such input into the estimates that the Company uses for its expected cash flows.
	As a result of the recent and current challenging economic environment and the impact it has had on the collections, for the non-medical account portfolio purchases acquired since the beginning of fiscal year 2009, the Company has extended its time frame of the expectation of recovering 100% of its invested capital to within a 24-29 month period from an 18-28 month period, and the expectation of recovering 130-140% of invested capital to a period of 7 years, which is an increase from the previous 5-year expectation. The medical accounts have a shorter 3-year collection curve based on the nature of these accounts. The Company routinely monitors these expectations against the actual cash flows and, in the event the cash flows are below its expectations and it believes there are no reasons relating to mere timing differences or explainable delays (such as can occur particularly when the court system is involved) for the reduced collections, an impairment would be recorded as a provision for credit losses. Conversely, in the event the cash flows are in excess of our expectations and the reason is due to timing, it would defer the “excess” collection as deferred revenue.
	Commissions and fees
	Commissions and fees are the contractual commissions earned by third party collection agencies and attorneys, and direct costs associated with the collection effort, generally court costs. The Company expects to continue to purchase portfolios and utilize third party collection agencies and attorney networks.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes	'
	Note 13 — Income Taxes
	Deferred federal and state taxes principally arise from (i) recognition of finance income collected for tax purposes, but not yet recognized for financial reporting; (ii) provision for impairments/credit losses; and (iii) stock based compensation expense for stock option grants and restricted stock awards recorded in the statement of operations for which no cash distribution has been made. Other components consist of state net operating loss (“NOL”) carry-forwards, which expire in September 2029. The provision for income tax expense for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 reflects income tax expense at an effective rate of 36.4% and 40.0%, respectively. There was no change in the valuation allowance for the three month period ended December 31, 2013.
	The corporate federal income tax returns of the Company for 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 are subject to examination by the IRS, generally for three years after they are filed. The state income tax returns and other state filings of the Company are subject to examination by the state taxing authorities, for various periods generally up to four years after they are filed.
	In April 2010, the Company received notification from the IRS that the Company’s 2008, 2009 and 2010 federal income tax returns would be audited. This audit is currently in progress.

Net_Income_per_Share

Net Income per Share	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Net Income per Share	'
	Note 14 — Net Income per Share
	Basic per share data is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated similarly, except that it includes the dilutive effect of the assumed exercise of securities, including the effect of shares issuable under the Company’s stock based compensation plans. With respect to the assumed proceeds from the exercise of dilutive options, the treasury stock method is calculated using the average market price for the period.
	The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted per share data for the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
		December 31, 2013						December 31, 2012
		Weighted						Weighted
		Net		Average		Per		Net		Average		Per
						Share						Share
		Income		Shares		Amount		(Income)		Shares		Amount
	Basic	$	2,389,000		12,974,239	$	0.18	$	2,588,000		12,941,242	$	0.2
	Effect of Dilutive Stock				225,845						258,874
	Diluted	$	2,389,000		13,200,084	$	0.18	$	2,588,000		13,200,116	$	0.2
	At December 31, 2013, 960,669 options at a weighted average exercise price of $12.33 were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation as they were antidilutive.
	At December 31, 2012, 1,013,189 options at a weighted average exercise price of $13.12 were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation as they were antidilutive.

Stock_Based_Compensation

Stock Based Compensation	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock Based Compensation	'
	Note 15 — Stock Based Compensation
	The Company accounts for stock-based employee compensation under ASC 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). ASC 718 requires that compensation expense associated with stock options and other stock based awards be recognized in the statement of operations, rather than a disclosure in the notes to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
	In December 2013, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (“Compensation Committee”) granted 156,700 stock options, of which 70,000 options were awarded to the Officers of the Company and the remaining 86,700 stock options were awarded to non-officer employees of the Company. The exercise price of these options, issued on December 12, 2013, was at the market price on that date. The options vest in three equal annual installments and accounted for as one graded vesting award. The weighted average assumptions used in the option pricing model were as follows:
	Risk-free interest rate	0.08	%
	Expected term (years)	6.5
	Expected volatility	98.3	%
	Dividend yield	0	%
	In December 2012, the Compensation Committee granted 160,000 stock options, of which 65,000 options were awarded to three officers of the Company and 20,000 options were awarded to an employee of the Company. The remaining 75,000 shares were issued to six non-employee directors of the Company. The exercise price of these options, issued on December 18, 2012, was at the market price on that date. The options vest in three equal annual installments and accounted for as one graded vesting award. The weighted average assumptions used in the option pricing model were as follows:
	Risk-free interest rate	0.16	%
	Expected term (years)	6
	Expected volatility	101	%
	Dividend yield	1.67	%
	In addition, the Company granted 102,321 restricted shares to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The shares vest in three equal annual installments.

Stock_Option_Plans

Stock Option Plans	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock Option Plans	'
	Note 16 — Stock Option Plans
	2012 Stock Option and Performance Award Plan
	On February 7, 2012, the Board of Directors adopted the Company’s 2012 Stock Option and Performance Award Plan (the “2012 Plan”), which was approved by the stockholders of the Company on March 21, 2012. The 2012 Plan replaces the Equity Compensation Plan (as defined below).
	The 2012 Plan provides the Company with flexibility with respect to equity awards by providing for grants of stock awards (i.e. restricted or unrestricted), stock purchase rights and stock appreciation rights, in addition to the granting of stock options.
	The Company authorized 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the 2012 Plan. Under the 2012 Plan, the Company has granted options to purchase an aggregate of 366,700 shares and an award of 102,321 shares of restricted stock, leaving 1,530,979 shares available as of December 31, 2013. As of December 31, 2013, approximately 53 of the Company’s employees were able to participate in the 2012 Plan.
	Equity Compensation Plan
	On December 1, 2005, the Board of Directors adopted the Company’s Equity Compensation Plan (the “Equity Compensation Plan”), which was approved by the stockholders of the Company on March 1, 2006. The Equity Compensation Plan was adopted to supplement the Company’s 2002 Stock Option Plan (as defined below).
	In addition to permitting the grant of stock options as are permitted under the 2002 Stock Option Plan, the Equity Compensation Plan allows the Company flexibility with respect to equity awards by also providing for grants of stock awards (i.e. restricted or unrestricted), stock purchase rights and stock appreciation rights.
	The Company authorized 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the Equity Compensation Plan. As of March 21, 2012, no more awards could be issued under this plan.
	2002 Stock Option Plan
	On March 5, 2002, the Board of Directors adopted the Company’s 2002 Stock Option Plan (the “2002 Plan”), which plan was approved by the stockholders of the Company on May 1, 2002. The 2002 Plan was adopted in order to attract and retain qualified directors, officers and employees of, and consultants to, the Company.
	The 2002 Plan authorizes the granting of incentive stock options (as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) and non-qualified stock options to eligible employees of the Company, including officers and directors of the Company (whether or not employees) and consultants of the Company.
	The Company authorized 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the 2002 Plan. As of March 5, 2012, no more awards could be issued under this plan.
	Summary of the Plans
	Compensation expense for stock options and restricted stock is recognized over the vesting period. Compensation expense for restricted stock is based upon the market price of the shares underlying the awards on the grant date.
	The following table summarizes stock option transactions under the 2012 Plan, the 2002 Plan, and the Equity Compensation Plan:
		Three Months Ended December 31,
		2013					2012
					Weighted					Weighted
					Average					Average
					Exercise					Exercise
		Shares			Price		Shares			Price
	Outstanding options at the beginning of period		1,622,771		$	11.31		1,499,471		$	11.27
	Options granted		156,700			8.49		160,000			9.57
	Options exercised		—			—		(1,600	)		6.96
	Options forfeited/canceled		(210,767	)		14.39		—			—
	Outstanding options at the end of period		1,568,704		$	10.61		1,657,871		$	11.11
	Exercisable options at the end of period		977,035		$	11.95		1,123,070		$	12.36
	The following table summarizes information about the 2012 Plan, 2002 Plan, and the Equity Compensation Plan outstanding options as of December 31, 2013:
		Options Outstanding								Options Exercisable
					Weighted		Weighted					Weighted
		Weighted			Remaining		Average					Average
		Number			Contractual		Exercise			Number		Exercise
	Range of Exercise Price	Outstanding			Life (in Years)		Price			Exercisable		Price
	$2.8751 – $5.7500		17,500			5.3	$	2.95			17,500	$	2.95
	$5.7501 – $8.6250		934,600			7.6		7.93			499,600		7.77
	$8.6251 – $14.3750		260,000			8.8		9.77			103,331		10.5
	$14.3751 – $17.2500		1,944			0.4		15.99			1,944		15.99
	$17.2501 – $20.1250		339,660			0.8		18.23			339,660		18.23
	$25.8751 – $28.7500		15,000			3		28.75			15,000		28.75
			1,568,704			6.3	$	10.61			977,035	$	11.95
	The Company recognized $336,000 and $409,000 of compensation expense related to the stock option grants during the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, there was $2,718,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to stock option awards. The weighted average period over which such costs are expected to be recognized is 1.9 years.
	The intrinsic value of the outstanding and exercisable options as of December 31, 2013 was approximately $574,000 and $422,000, respectively. The weighted average remaining contractual life of exercisable options is 4.7 years. There were no options exercised during the three month period ended December 31, 2013. The intrinsic value and the fair value of the options exercised during the three month period ended December 31, 2012 was approximately $5,000 and $9,000, respectively. The proceeds from the exercise of the stock options exercised during the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 were approximately $11,000. There was no tax effect associated with this exercise. The fair value of the stock options that vested during the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $481,000 and $833,000, respectively. The fair value of the awards granted during the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $1,021,000 and $1,316,000, respectively.
	The following table summarizes information about restricted stock transactions:
		Three Months Ended December 31,
		2013					2012
					Weighted					Weighted
					Average					Average
					Grant					Grant
					Date Fair					Date Fair
		Shares			Value		Shares			Value
	Unvested at the beginning of period		102,321		$	9.57		10,922		$	7.63
	Awards granted		—			—		102,321			9.57
	Vested		(34,107	)		9.57		(10,922	)		7.63
	Forfeited		—			—		—			—
	Unvested at the end of period		68,214		$	9.57		102,321		$	9.57
	The Company recognized $82,000 and $30,000 of compensation expense related to the restricted stock awards during the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, there was $641,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock awards. The weighted average remaining period over which such costs are recognized is 2.0 years. There were no awards granted during the first quarter of fiscal year 2014. The fair value of the awards granted during the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 was approximately $979,000. The fair value of the awards vested during the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 and 2013 was $326,000 and $83,000, respectively.
	The Company recognized an aggregate total of $418,000 and $439,000 in compensation expense for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, for the stock options and restricted stock grants. As of December 31, 2013, there was a total of $3,359,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options and restricted stock grants. The method used to calculate stock based compensation is the straight line pro-rated method.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stockholders' Equity	'
	Note 17 — Stockholders’ Equity
	There were no dividends declared or paid during the three months ended December 31, 2013. During September 2012, the Company declared a cash dividend aggregating $260,000 ($0.02 per share) which was paid November 1, 2012. On December 13, 2012, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the payment of a special accelerated annual dividend of $0.08 per share to shareholders of record on December 24, 2012. The aggregate dividend of $1,030,000 was paid on December 28, 2012.
	On March 9, 2012, the Company adopted a Rule 10b5-1 Plan in conjunction with its share repurchase program. The Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to $20 million of the Company’s common stock, which was effective through March 11, 2013. During the three month period ended December 31, 2012, the Company purchased approximately 151,000 shares at an aggregate cost of approximately $1,386,000 under the plan. The Plan expired in March 2013.
	As of December 31, 2013, stockholders equity includes an amount for other comprehensive loss of $755,000, which reflects unrealized losses in available-for-sale securities. In addition, $17,000 related to the non-controlling interest in Pegasus has been included in stockholders’ equity.

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Measur

Fair Value of Financial Measurements and Disclosures	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value of Financial Measurements and Disclosures	'
	Note 18 — Fair Value of Financial Measurements and Disclosures
	Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	FASB ASC 825, Financial Instruments, (“ASC 825”), requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized on the balance sheet, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. Because there are a limited number of market participants for certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities, fair value estimates are based upon judgments regarding credit risk, investor expectation of economic conditions, normal cost of administration and other risk characteristics, including interest rate and prepayment risk. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of judgment, which significantly affect the estimates.
	The estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments is summarized as follows:
		31-Dec-13				30-Sep-13
		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
		Amount		Value		Amount		Value
	Financial assets
	Available-for-sale investments (Level 1)	$	58,479,000	$	58,479,000	$	58,035,000	$	58,035,000
	Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation (Level 3)		55,131,000		61,833,000		57,900,000		70,875,000
	Structured settlements (Level 3)		30,436,000		30,436,000		—		—
	Financial liabilities
	Non-Recourse Debt Bank of Montreal (Level 3)		33,132,000		24,570,000		35,760,000		27,000,000
	Other debt - CBC, revolving line of credit (Level 3)		9,596,000		9,596,000		—		—
	Other debt - CBC, non-recourse notes payable with varying installments (Level 3)		13,767,000		13,767,000		—		—
	Disclosure of the estimated fair values of financial instruments often requires the use of estimates. The Company uses the following methods and assumptions to estimate the fair value of financial instruments:
	Available-for-sale investments – The available-for-sale securities consist of mutual funds that are valued based on quoted prices in active markets.
	Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation – The Company computed the fair value of the consumer receivables acquired for liquidation using its proprietary forecasting model. The Company’s forecasting model utilizes a discounted cash flow analysis. The Company’s cash flows are an estimate of collections for consumer receivables based on variables fully described in Note 4: Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation. These cash flows are discounted to determine the fair value.
	Structured settlements – The Company determined the fair value based on the discounted forecasted future collections of the structured settlements.
	Non-recourse Debt – Bank of Montreal – carries a variable rate. The fair value at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 was based on the discounted weighted average forecasted future collections of the Portfolio Purchase.
	Other debt – CBC, revolving line of credit - The Company determined the fair value based on similar instruments that are available to the Company.
	Other debt – CBC, non-recourse notes payable with varying installments - The fair value at December 31, 2013 was based on the discounted forecasted future collections of the structured settlements.
	Fair Value Hierarchy
	The Company recorded its available-for-sale investments at estimated fair value on a recurring basis. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include estimated fair value information regarding its available-for-sale investments as of December 31, 2013, as required by FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”). ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input significant to the fair value measurement.
	Level 1 – Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to assess at the measurement date.
	Level 2 – Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets or liabilities; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
	Level 3- Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and significant to the fair value of the liabilities that are developed using the reporting entities’ estimates and assumptions, which reflect those that market participants would use.
	The Company’s available-for-sale investments are classified as Level 1 financial instruments based on the classifications described above. The Company did not have transfers into or (out of) Level 1 investments during the three month period ended December 31, 2013. The Company had no Level 2 or Level 3 available-for-sale investments during the first quarter of fiscal year 2014.

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Subsequent Events	'
	Note 19 — Subsequent Events
	On February 7, 2014, the manager of AGR Disability Help Center was terminated for cause. A replacement has been hired and the team is in place to continue the management of AGR Disability Help Center.

Business_and_Basis_of_Presenta1

Business and Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Business	'
	Business
	Asta Funding, Inc., together with its wholly owned significant operating subsidiaries Palisades Collection LLC, Palisades Acquisition XVI, LLC (“Palisades XVI”), VATIV Recovery Solutions LLC (“VATIV”), ASFI Pegasus Holdings, LLC (“APH”), Fund Pegasus, LLC (“Fund Pegasus”), AGR Disability Help Center, LLC (“AGR-DHC”) and other subsidiaries, not all wholly owned (collectively, the “Company”), is engaged in the business of purchasing, managing for its own account and servicing distressed consumer receivables, including charged-off receivables, semi-performing receivables and performing receivables. The primary charged-off receivables are accounts that have been written-off by the originators and may have been previously serviced by collection agencies. Semi-performing receivables are accounts where the debtor is currently making partial or irregular monthly payments, but the accounts may have been written-off by the originators. Performing receivables are accounts where the debtor is making regular monthly payments that may or may not have been delinquent in the past. Distressed consumer receivables are the unpaid debts of individuals to banks, finance companies and other credit providers. A large portion of the Company’s distressed consumer receivables are MasterCard®, Visa®, other credit card accounts, and telecommunication accounts which were charged-off by the issuers for non-payment. The Company acquires these portfolios at substantial discounts from their face values. The discounts are based on the characteristics (issuer, account size, debtor residence and age of debt) of the underlying accounts of each portfolio. Litigation related receivables are semi-performing investments whereby the Company is assigned the revenue stream from the proceeds received.
	The Company owns 80% of Pegasus Funding, LLC (“Pegasus”), which invests in funding personal injury claims and 80% of newly-acquired CBC Settlement Funding, LLC (“CBC”), which invests in structured settlements (see Note 5: Acquisition of CBC).
	AGR-DHC is a disability advocacy group, assisting disabled individuals filing claims for disability benefits under the Social Security Act, from the filing of a claim to disability claim hearings and, if necessary, the appeals process.
Basis of Presentation	'
	Basis of Presentation
	The condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2013, the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the condensed consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity as of and for the three months ended December 31, 2013 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, are unaudited. The September 30, 2013 financial information included in this report has been extracted from our audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly our financial position at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, the results of operations for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and cash flows for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 have been made. The results of operations for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for any other interim period or the full fiscal year.
	Palisades XVI is a variable interest entity (“VIE”). Asta Funding, Inc. is considered the primary beneficiary because it has the power to direct the significant activities of the VIE via its ownership and service contract. It also has the rights to receive benefits from the collections that exceed the payments to Bank of Montreal. Palisades XVI holds the Great Seneca portfolio of $40.9 million and the Bank of Montreal loan of $33.1 million as of December 31, 2013.
	Blue Bell Receivables I, LLC, Blue Bell Receivables II, LLC and Blue Bell Receivables III, LLC (the “Blue Bell Entities”) are VIEs. CBC is considered the primary beneficiary because it has the power to direct the significant activities of the VIEs via its ownership and service contract. It also has the rights to receive benefits from the collections that exceed the payments to the note holders. The Blue Bell Entities hold structured settlements of $15.5 million and the non-recourse notes payable of $13.8 million as of December 31, 2013.
	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and therefore do not include all information and note disclosures required under generally accepted accounting principles. The Company suggests that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates including management’s estimates of future cash flows and the resulting rates of return.
Concentration of Credit Risk - Cash	'
	Concentration of Credit Risk - Cash
	Cash balances are maintained at various depository institutions and are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). The Company had cash balances with seven banks at December 31, 2013 that exceeded the balance insured by the FDIC by approximately $32.1 million. The Company had cash balances with three banks which amounted to approximately $31.3 million as of December 31, 2013.
Subsequent Events	'
	Subsequent Events
	The Company has evaluated events and transactions occurring subsequent to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet date of December 31, 2013, for items that should potentially be recognized or disclosed in these financial statements. The Company did not identify any items which would require disclosure in or adjustment to the Financial Statements, except as indicated in Note 19.
Reclassifications	'
	Reclassifications
	Certain items in the prior period’s financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation, primarily related to certain balance sheet and cash flow items.

Investments_Tables

Investments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Available-for-Sale	'
	Investments classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, consist of the following:
		Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized			Fair
		Cost		Gains		Losses			Value
	December 31, 2013	$	59,744,000	$	—	$	(1,265,000	)	$	58,479,000
	September 30, 2013	$	59,151,000	$	27,000	$	(1,143,000	)	$	58,035,000

Consumer_Receivables_Acquired_1

Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Changes in Balance Sheet Account of Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation	'
	The following tables summarize the changes in the balance sheet account of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation during the following periods:
			For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013
						Cost
			Interest			Recovery
			Method			Method			Total
	Balance, beginning of period		$	8,071,000		$	49,829,000		$	57,900,000
	Acquisitions of receivable portfolio			—			520,000			520,000
	Net cash collections from collection of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation			(6,748,000	)		(3,455,000	)		(10,203,000	)
	Net cash collections represented by account sales of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation			(1,000	)		—			(1,000	)
	Finance income recognized (1)			6,231,000			684,000			6,915,000
	Balance, end of period		$	7,553,000		$	47,578,000		$	55,131,000
	Finance income as a percentage of collections			92.3	%		19.8	%		67.8	%
	-1	Includes $6.8 million derived from fully amortized pools.
			For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2012
						Cost
			Interest			Recovery
			Method			Method			Total
	Balance, beginning of period		$	12,326,000		$	74,561,000		$	86,887,000
	Net cash collections from collection of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation			(9,473,000	)		(4,126,000	)		(13,599,000	)
	Net cash collections represented by account sales of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation			(10,000	)		—			(10,000	)
	Finance income recognized (1)			7,629,000			861,000			8,490,000
	Balance, end of period		$	10,472,000		$	71,296,000		$	81,768,000
	Finance income as a percentage of collections			80.5	%		20.9	%		62.4	%
	-1	Includes $8.1 million derived from fully amortized pools.
Net Cash Collections, Applied to Principal for Interest Method Portfolios	'
	Based upon current projections, net cash collections, applied to principal for interest method portfolios will be as follows for the twelve months in the periods ending:
	September 30, 2014 (nine months remaining)		$	3,839,000
	September 30, 2015			1,047,000
	September 30, 2016			812,000
	September 30, 2017			645,000
	September 30, 2018			546,000
	September 30, 2019			441,000
	September 30, 2020			223,000
	Total		$	7,553,000
Changes in Accretable Yield	'
	Changes in accretable yield for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
			Three Months			Three Months
			Ended			Ended
			December 31,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Balance at beginning of period		$	1,116,000		$	2,086,000
	Income recognized on finance receivables, net			(6,231,000	)		(7,629,000	)
	Additions representing expected revenue from purchases			—			—
	Reclassifications from nonaccretable difference (1)			6,096,000			7,265,000
	Balance at end of period		$	981,000		$	1,722,000
	-1	Includes portfolios that became zero basis during the period, removal of zero basis portfolios from the accretable yield calculation and other immaterial impairments and accretions based on the extension of certain collection curves.
Collections on Gross Basis Less Commissions and Direct Costs	'
	The following table summarizes collections on a gross basis as received by the Company’s third-party collection agencies and attorneys, less commissions and direct costs for the three month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
			For the Three Months Ended
			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Gross collections (1)		$	17,325,000		$	22,086,000
	Commissions and fees (2)			7,121,000			8,477,000
	Net collections		$	10,204,000		$	13,609,000
	-1	Gross collections include: collections from third-party collection agencies and attorneys, collections from in-house efforts, and collections represented by account sales.
	-2	Commissions and fees are the contractual commission earned by third party collection agencies and attorneys, and direct costs associated with the collection effort, generally court costs. Includes a 3% fee charged by a servicer on gross collections received by the Company in connection with the Portfolio Purchase. Such arrangement was consummated in December 2007. The fee is charged for asset location, skip tracing and ultimately suing debtors in connection with this portfolio purchase.

Acquisition_of_CBC_Tables

Acquisition of CBC (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed	'
	The following table summarizes the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed as of the December 31, 2013 acquisition date:
	Cash	$	351,000
	Structured settlements		30,436,000
	Other assets		11,000
	Other liabilities		(356,000	)
	Other debt - CBC (including non-recourse notes payable amounting to $13.8 million) (see Note 10: Other debt-CBC)		(25,863,000	)
	Total identifiable net assets acquired		4,579,000
	Goodwill (see Note 8: Goodwill)		1,360,000
	Purchase Price	$	5,939,000

Furniture_Equipment_Tables

Furniture & Equipment (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Furniture and Equipment	'
	Furniture and equipment consist of the following as of the dates indicated:
		December 31,		September 30,
		2013		2013
	Furniture	$	310,000	$	310,000
	Equipment		3,622,000		3,622,000
	Software		1,211,000		1,211,000
	Leasehold improvements		99,000		99,000
			5,242,000		5,242,000
	Less accumulated depreciation		4,286,000		4,136,000
	Balance, end of period	$	956,000	$	1,106,000

Goodwill_Tables

Goodwill (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill	'
	The goodwill balances at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2013 are as follows:
	Balance, September 30, 2013	$	1,410,000
	Goodwill from acquisition (see Note 5: Acquisition of CBC)		1,360,000
	Balance, December 31, 2013	$	2,770,000

Other_Debt_CBC_Tables

Other Debt - CBC (Tables) (CBC Acquisition LLC)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
CBC Acquisition LLC	'
Components of Other Debt from Acquisition	'
	The following table details the other debt at December 31, 2013:
		Interest Rate			December 31,
					2013 Balance
	Non-recourse, notes payable with varying monthly installments:
	Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with principal and interest outstanding payable until June 2025		8.75	%	$	2,776,000
	Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with principal and interest outstanding payable until August 2026		7.25	%		5,884,000
	Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with principal and interest outstanding payable until April 2032		7.125	%		5,107,000
	Subtotal notes payable					13,767,000
	$12,500,000 revolving line of credit, $2,904,000 available as of December 31, 2013, interest terms are prime + 1% with floor of 5.5%, expiring on September 30, 2014		5.5	%		9,596,000
	Total debt – CBC				$	23,363,000

Net_Income_per_Share_Tables

Net Income per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Computation of Basic and Diluted per Share	'
	The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted per share data for the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:
		December 31, 2013						December 31, 2012
		Weighted						Weighted
		Net		Average		Per		Net		Average		Per
						Share						Share
		Income		Shares		Amount		(Income)		Shares		Amount
	Basic	$	2,389,000		12,974,239	$	0.18	$	2,588,000		12,941,242	$	0.2
	Effect of Dilutive Stock				225,845						258,874
	Diluted	$	2,389,000		13,200,084	$	0.18	$	2,588,000		13,200,116	$	0.2

Stock_Based_Compensation_Table

Stock Based Compensation (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Option Pricing Model	'
	The weighted average assumptions used in the option pricing model were as follows:
	Risk-free interest rate	0.08	%
	Expected term (years)	6.5
	Expected volatility	98.3	%
	Dividend yield	0	%
	The weighted average assumptions used in the option pricing model were as follows:
	Risk-free interest rate	0.16	%
	Expected term (years)	6
	Expected volatility	101	%
	Dividend yield	1.67	%

Stock_Option_Plans_Tables

Stock Option Plans (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock Option Transactions	'
	The following table summarizes stock option transactions under the 2012 Plan, the 2002 Plan, and the Equity Compensation Plan:
		Three Months Ended December 31,
		2013					2012
					Weighted					Weighted
					Average					Average
					Exercise					Exercise
		Shares			Price		Shares			Price
	Outstanding options at the beginning of period		1,622,771		$	11.31		1,499,471		$	11.27
	Options granted		156,700			8.49		160,000			9.57
	Options exercised		—			—		(1,600	)		6.96
	Options forfeited/canceled		(210,767	)		14.39		—			—
	Outstanding options at the end of period		1,568,704		$	10.61		1,657,871		$	11.11
	Exercisable options at the end of period		977,035		$	11.95		1,123,070		$	12.36
Summary of Outstanding Options	'
	The following table summarizes information about the 2012 Plan, 2002 Plan, and the Equity Compensation Plan outstanding options as of December 31, 2013:
		Options Outstanding								Options Exercisable
					Weighted		Weighted					Weighted
		Weighted			Remaining		Average					Average
		Number			Contractual		Exercise			Number		Exercise
	Range of Exercise Price	Outstanding			Life (in Years)		Price			Exercisable		Price
	$2.8751 – $5.7500		17,500			5.3	$	2.95			17,500	$	2.95
	$5.7501 – $8.6250		934,600			7.6		7.93			499,600		7.77
	$8.6251 – $14.3750		260,000			8.8		9.77			103,331		10.5
	$14.3751 – $17.2500		1,944			0.4		15.99			1,944		15.99
	$17.2501 – $20.1250		339,660			0.8		18.23			339,660		18.23
	$25.8751 – $28.7500		15,000			3		28.75			15,000		28.75
			1,568,704			6.3	$	10.61			977,035	$	11.95
Summary of Restricted Stock Transactions	'
	The following table summarizes information about restricted stock transactions:
		Three Months Ended December 31,
		2013					2012
					Weighted					Weighted
					Average					Average
					Grant					Grant
					Date Fair					Date Fair
		Shares			Value		Shares			Value
	Unvested at the beginning of period		102,321		$	9.57		10,922		$	7.63
	Awards granted		—			—		102,321			9.57
	Vested		(34,107	)		9.57		(10,922	)		7.63
	Forfeited		—			—		—			—
	Unvested at the end of period		68,214		$	9.57		102,321		$	9.57

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Measur1

Fair Value of Financial Measurements and Disclosures (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Estimated Fair Value of Company's Financial Instruments	'
	The estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments is summarized as follows:
		31-Dec-13				30-Sep-13
		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
		Amount		Value		Amount		Value
	Financial assets
	Available-for-sale investments (Level 1)	$	58,479,000	$	58,479,000	$	58,035,000	$	58,035,000
	Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation (Level 3)		55,131,000		61,833,000		57,900,000		70,875,000
	Structured settlements (Level 3)		30,436,000		30,436,000		—		—
	Financial liabilities
	Non-Recourse Debt Bank of Montreal (Level 3)		33,132,000		24,570,000		35,760,000		27,000,000
	Other debt - CBC, revolving line of credit (Level 3)		9,596,000		9,596,000		—		—
	Other debt - CBC, non-recourse notes payable with varying installments (Level 3)		13,767,000		13,767,000		—		—

Business_and_Basis_of_Presenta2

Business and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Number of banks in which cash balances maintained	3
Cash in three banks	$31,300,000
Palisades XVI | Great Seneca	'
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Portfolio holdings amount	40.9
Palisades XVI | BMO	'
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Variable interest entity carrying amount loan costs	33.1
Blue Bell Entities	'
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Structured settlement holding amount	15.5
Non-recourse notes payable	13.8
F D I C	'
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Number of banks in which cash balances maintained	7
Amount that exceed the balance insured by the FDIC	$32,100,000
Pegasus	'
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Ownership interest	80.00%
CBC Acquisition LLC	'
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Ownership interest	80.00%

Available_for_Sale_Detail

Available for Sale (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Amortized Cost	$59,744,000	$59,151,000
Unrealized Gains	'	27,000
Unrealized Losses	-1,265,000	-1,143,000
Fair Value	$58,479,000	$58,035,000

Investments_Additional_Informa

Investments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
	Investment	Investment
Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Number of investments sold	1	2
Realized gain (loss) of investment	($25,000)	$175,000
Capital gains received	186,000	225,000
Number of investments	6	'
Number of unrealized loss position in investment	6	'
Number of unrealized loss position existed for 12 months or more	4	'
Available-for-sale Securities	'	'
Investments [Line Items]	'	'
Total realized gain related to available-for sale investments	$161,000	$400,000

Consumer_Receivables_Acquired_2

Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013
Consumer Receivables Acquired For Liquidation [Line Items]	'	'	'
Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation using interest method	$7,553,000	'	'
Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation using cost recovery method	47,600,000	'	'
Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation concentrated in one portfolio	40,900,000	'	'
Portfolio purchase	300,000,000	'	'
Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation (at net realizable value)	55,131,000	'	57,900,000
Face value of charged-off consumer receivables	8,600,000	'	'
Purchased cost of charged-off consumer receivables	$500,000	'	'
Number of portfolio purchases	'	0	'

Changes_in_Balance_Sheet_Accou

Changes in Balance Sheet Account of Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Consumer Receivables Acquired For Liquidation [Line Items]	'		'
Balance, beginning of period	$57,900,000		$86,887,000
Acquisitions of receivable portfolio	520,000		'
Net cash collections from collection of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation	-10,203,000		-13,599,000
Net cash collections represented by account sales of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation	-1,000		-10,000
Finance income recognized	6,915,000	[1]	8,490,000	[2]
Balance, end of period	55,131,000		81,768,000
Finance income as a percentage of collections	67.80%		62.40%
Interest Method	'		'
Consumer Receivables Acquired For Liquidation [Line Items]	'		'
Balance, beginning of period	8,071,000		12,326,000
Net cash collections from collection of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation	-6,748,000		-9,473,000
Net cash collections represented by account sales of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation	-1,000		-10,000
Finance income recognized	6,231,000	[1]	7,629,000	[2]
Balance, end of period	7,553,000		10,472,000
Finance income as a percentage of collections	92.30%		80.50%
Cost Recovery Method	'		'
Consumer Receivables Acquired For Liquidation [Line Items]	'		'
Balance, beginning of period	49,829,000		74,561,000
Acquisitions of receivable portfolio	520,000		'
Net cash collections from collection of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation	-3,455,000		-4,126,000
Finance income recognized	684,000	[1]	861,000	[2]
Balance, end of period	$47,578,000		$71,296,000
Finance income as a percentage of collections	19.80%		20.90%
[1]	Includes $6.8 million derived from fully amortized pools.
[2]	Includes $8.1 million derived from fully amortized pools.

Changes_in_Balance_Sheet_Accou1

Changes in Balance Sheet Account of Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Consumer Receivables Acquired For Liquidation [Line Items]	'	'
Fully amortized portfolios	$6.80	$8.10

Net_Cash_Collections_Applied_t

Net Cash Collections Applied to Principal for Interest Method Portfolios (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items]	'
September 30, 2014 (nine months remaining)	$3,839,000
30-Sep-15	1,047,000
30-Sep-16	812,000
30-Sep-17	645,000
30-Sep-18	546,000
30-Sep-19	441,000
30-Sep-20	223,000
Total	$7,553,000

Changes_in_Accretable_Yield_De

Changes in Accretable Yield (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Consumer Receivables Acquired For Liquidation [Line Items]	'		'
Balance at beginning of period	$1,116,000		$2,086,000
Income recognized on finance receivables, net	-6,231,000		-7,629,000
Additions representing expected revenue from purchases	'		'
Reclassifications from nonaccretable difference	6,096,000	[1]	7,265,000	[1]
Balance at end of period	$981,000		$1,722,000
[1]	Includes portfolios that became zero basis during the period, removal of zero basis portfolios from the accretable yield calculation and other immaterial impairments and accretions based on the extension of certain collection curves.

Collections_on_Gross_Basis_Les

Collections on Gross Basis Less Commissions and Direct Costs (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Consumer Receivables Acquired For Liquidation [Line Items]	'		'
Gross collections	$17,325,000	[1]	$22,086,000	[1]
Commissions and fees	7,121,000	[2]	8,477,000	[2]
Net collections	$10,204,000		$13,609,000
[1]	Gross collections include: collections from third-party collection agencies and attorneys, collections from in-house efforts, and collections represented by account sales.
[2]	Commissions and fees are the contractual commission earned by third party collection agencies and attorneys, and direct costs associated with the collection effort, generally court costs. Includes a 3% fee charged by a servicer on gross collections received by the Company in connection with the Portfolio Purchase. Such arrangement was consummated in December 2007. The fee is charged for asset location, skip tracing and ultimately suing debtors in connection with this portfolio purchase.

Collections_on_Gross_Basis_Les1

Collections on Gross Basis Less Commissions and Direct Costs (Parenthetical) (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Consumer Receivables Acquired For Liquidation [Line Items]	'
Fee charged on portfolio purchase	3.00%

Acquisition_of_CBC_Additional_

Acquisition of CBC - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'
Total Revenue	$10,237,000	$10,552,000
Pro forma basis, total revenues	11,329,000	11,560,000
Net income attributable to Asta Funding, Inc.	2,389,000	2,588,000
Pro forma basis, net income attributable to Asta Funding, Inc	2,431,000	2,650,000
CBC Management Services Llc	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'
Ownership interest acquired, percent	80.00%	'
Purchase price	5,900,000	'
Financing to CBC	5,000,000	'
Non-controlling ownership interest, percent	20.00%	'
Minimum distribution to be received by parent before distribution to noncontrolling Interests	$2,337,190	'

Fair_Value_of_Assets_Acquired_

Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Cash	$351,000
Structured settlements	30,436,000
Other assets	11,000
Other liabilities	-356,000
Other debt - CBC (including non-recourse notes payable amounting to $13.8 million) (see Note 10: Other debt-CBC)	-25,863,000
Total identifiable net assets acquired	4,579,000
Goodwill (see Note 8: Goodwill)	1,360,000
Purchase Price	$5,939,000

Fair_Value_of_Assets_Acquired_1

Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Non-recourse notes payable	$13,767,000

Other_Investments_Additional_I

Other Investments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	18-May-12
Other Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Earnings attributable to non-controlling interest	$449,000	$45,000	'
Revolving line of credit	'	'	1,000,000
Bearing interest at prime rate, with initial term	'	'	'Twenty-four months
Company's investment in cases through BPCM	1,900,000	'	'
Recognized revenue through BPCM	0	0	'
Pegasus Legal Funding LLC	'	'	'
Other Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Earnings in interest and fees	2,800,000	1,200,000	'
Company's investment in personal injury	30,500,000	23,000,000	'
Earnings attributable to non-controlling interest	449,000	45,000	'
Reserves for bad debts	$1,900,000	'	'

Furniture_and_Equipment_Detail

Furniture and Equipment (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Total	$5,242,000	$5,242,000
Less accumulated depreciation	4,286,000	4,136,000
Furniture and equipment, net	956,000	1,106,000
Furniture	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Total	310,000	310,000
Equipment	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Total	3,622,000	3,622,000
Software	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Total	1,211,000	1,211,000
Leasehold Improvements	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Total	$99,000	$99,000

Goodwill_Additional_Informatio

Goodwill - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Impairment loss	$0	$0

Goodwill_Detail

Goodwill (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Beginning balance	$1,410,000
Goodwill from acquisition (see Note 5: Acquisition of CBC)	1,360,000
Ending balance	$2,770,000

Non_Recourse_Debt_Additional_I

Non Recourse Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Aug. 07, 2013	Mar. 31, 2007	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Portfolio Purchase had a purchase price	'	$300,000,000	'	'	'
Receivables financing agreement, consecutive months	'	'3 years	'	'	'
Percentage of ownership in Palisades XVI	100.00%	'	'	'	'
Prepayment fund	15,000,000	'	'	'	'
BMO right to receive from future net collections	30.00%	'	'	'	'
Aggregate minimum repayment obligations 2014	'	'	3,400,000	'	'
Aggregate minimum repayment obligations 2015	'	'	3,600,000	'	'
Revolving debt level Liquidity	'	'	33,100,000	'	35,800,000
Average interest rate	'	'	0.42%	3.71%	'
Average debt obligation	'	'	34,200,000	60,000,000	'
Fifth Amendment	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Applicable interest rate	'	'	0.42%	'	0.43%
Receivables Financing Agreement	'	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Receivables Financing Agreement	'	$227,000,000	'	'	'

Other_DebtCBC_Additional_Infor

Other Debt-CBC - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Assumed debt related to acquisition	$25,863,000
Debt amount of settlement	2,500,000
Debt outstanding amount	23,363,000
Issuance of debt notes by Special Purpose Entities	13,767,000
CBC Acquisition LLC	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Assumed debt related to acquisition	25,863,000
Debt amount of settlement	2,500,000
Debt outstanding amount	23,363,000
Amount from line of credit facility	9,596,000
Issuance of debt notes by Special Purpose Entities	$13,767,000
CBC Acquisition LLC | SPE	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Ownership interest acquired, percent	100.00%

Componenet_of_Other_Debt_from_

Componenet of Other Debt from Acquisition (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable	$13,767,000
Total debt - CBC	23,363,000
CBC Acquisition LLC	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Revolving line of credit, interest rate	5.50%
Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable	13,767,000
$12,500,000 revolving line of credit, $2,904,000 available as of December 31, 2013, interest terms are prime + 1% with floor of 5.5%, expiring on September 30, 2014	9,596,000
Total debt - CBC	23,363,000
CBC Acquisition LLC | Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable no later than June 2025	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable, interest rate	8.75%
Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable	2,776,000
CBC Acquisition LLC | Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable no later than August 2026	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable, interest rate	7.25%
Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable	5,884,000
CBC Acquisition LLC | Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable no later than April 2032	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable, interest rate	7.13%
Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable	$5,107,000

Componenet_of_Other_Debt_from_1

Componenet of Other Debt from Acquisition (Parenthetical) (Detail) (CBC Acquisition LLC, USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Line of credit, Current borrowing capacity	$12,500,000
Line of credit, Remaining borrowing capacity	$2,904,000
Revolving line of credit, expiring date	30-Sep-14
Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable no later than June 2025	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable, maturity date	'2025-06
Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable no later than August 2026	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable, maturity date	'2026-08
Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable no later than April 2032	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Notes payable secured by settlement receivables with all principal and interest outstanding payable, maturity date	'2032-04
Prime rate	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Revolving line of credit, basis spread on variable rate	1.00%

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Lease expiry, year and month	'2014-08

Income_Recognition_Impairments1

Income Recognition, Impairments, and Commissions and Fees - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Recognition And Impairments [Line Items]	'	'
Total Revenues	$10,237,000	$10,552,000
Impairment charges	0	0
Recovering percentage from invested capital	100.00%	'
Purchase of Portfolio	'Acquired since the beginning of fiscal year 2009	'
Expected time period for recovering of capital	'7 years	'3 years
Increase from expected time period for recovering of capital	'5 years	'
CBC Acquisition LLC	'	'
Income Recognition And Impairments [Line Items]	'	'
Total Revenues	$0	'
Minimum	'	'
Income Recognition And Impairments [Line Items]	'	'
Recovering percentage from invested capital	130.00%	'
Time frame for recovering invested capital	'28 months	'18 months
Maximum	'	'
Income Recognition And Impairments [Line Items]	'	'
Recovering percentage from invested capital	140.00%	'
Time frame for recovering invested capital	'29 months	'24 months

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax [Line Items]	'	'
Provision for income tax expense	36.40%	40.00%
State and local net operating loss carry forwards expiration dates	'September 2029	'
Valuation allowance	$0	'
Federal Income Tax	'	'
Income Tax [Line Items]	'	'
Income tax returns subject to examination in years	3	'
State and Local Jurisdiction	'	'
Income Tax [Line Items]	'	'
Income tax returns subject to examination in years	'	4

Computation_of_Basic_and_Dilut

Computation of Basic and Diluted Per Share Data (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule Of Computation Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Common Share [Line Items]	'	'
Basic, Net Income	$2,389,000	$2,588,000
Effect of Dilutive Stock	'	'
Diluted, Net Income	$2,389,000	$2,588,000
Basic, Weighted Average Shares	12,974,239	12,941,242
Effect of Dilutive Stock, Weighted Average Shares	225,845	258,874
Diluted, Weighted Average Shares	13,200,084	13,200,116
Basic, Per share amount	$0.18	$0.20
Effect of Dilutive Stock, Per share amount	'	'
Diluted, Per share amount	$0.18	$0.20

Net_Income_Per_Share_Additiona

Net Income Per Share - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Computation Of Earnings Per Share Line Items	'	'
Shares excluded from diluted earnings per share calculation	960,669	1,013,189
Weighted average exercise price	$12.33	$13.12

Stock_Based_Compensation_Addit

Stock Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
		Installment		Person
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of shares utilized	156,700	156,700	160,000	160,000	'	'
Stock option awarded	1,568,704	1,568,704	1,657,871	1,657,871	1,622,771	1,499,471
Number of installment period of stock options vested	'3 years	'	'	'3 years	'	'
Number of non-employee directors	'	'	'	6	'	'
Number of shares vesting installments	'	3	'	'	'	'
Restricted stock to Chief Executive Officer	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock options issued	'	102,321	'	'	'	'
Officers	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock option awarded	70,000	70,000	65,000	65,000	'	'
Non Officer Employees	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock option awarded	86,700	86,700	75,000	75,000	'	'
Employee	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock option awarded	'	'	20,000	20,000	'	'

Weighted_Average_Assumptions_U

Weighted Average Assumptions Used in Option Pricing Model (Detail)	1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Risk-free interest rate	0.08%	0.16%
Expected term (years)	'6 years 6 months	'6 years
Expected volatility	98.30%	101.00%
Dividend yield	0.00%	1.67%

Stock_Option_Plans_Additional_

Stock Option Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Number of shares utilized	156,700	156,700	160,000	160,000
Intrinsic value of the stock options outstanding	$574,000	$574,000	'	'
Intrinsic value of the stock options exercised	'	422,000	'	'
Weighted average remaining contractual life of exercisable options	'	'4 years 8 months 12 days	'	'
Options exercised, Shares	'	0	1,600	'
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	'	'	11,000	'
Tax effect, options exercised	'	'	0	'
Fair value of the stock options, vested	'	481,000	833,000	'
Fair value of the stock options, granted	1,021,000	1,021,000	1,316,000	1,316,000
Awards granted during period	'	'	102,321	'
Employee Stock Option	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock-based employee compensation	'	336,000	409,000	'
Unrecognized compensation cost	2,718,000	2,718,000	'	'
Unrecognized compensation cost, weighted average remaining period for recognition	'	'1 year 10 months 24 days	'	'
Intrinsic value of the stock options exercised	'	'	5,000	'
Fair value of options exercised	'	'	9,000	'
Restricted stock to Chief Executive Officer	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock-based employee compensation	'	82,000	30,000	'
Unrecognized compensation cost	641,000	641,000	'	'
Unrecognized compensation cost, weighted average remaining period for recognition	'	'2 years	'	'
Fair value of the stock options, granted	'	979,000	'	'
Fair value of the stock options, vested	'	326,000	83,000	'
Awards granted during period	'	0	'	'
Stock Options And Restricted Stock	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock-based employee compensation	'	418,000	439,000	'
Unrecognized compensation cost	$3,359,000	$3,359,000	'	'
Equity Compensation Plan | Common Stock	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Common Stock authorized	1,000,000	1,000,000	'	'
Stock option awarded stock issued	'	0	'	'
Stock Option Plan expiration date	'	21-Mar-12	'	'
Two Thousand And Twelve Plan	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Number of shares utilized	'	102,321	'	'
Eligible employees	'	53	'	'
Number of shares available	1,530,979	1,530,979	'	'
Two Thousand And Twelve Plan | Common Stock	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Common Stock authorized	'	'	2,000,000	2,000,000
Two Thousand And Twelve Plan | Options to purchase	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Number of shares utilized	'	366,700	'	'
Two Thousand And Two Plan	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock Option Plan expiration date	'	5-Mar-12	'	'
Two Thousand And Two Plan | Common Stock	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Common Stock authorized	1,000,000	1,000,000	'	'
Stock option awarded stock issued	'	0	'	'

Stock_Option_Plans_Detail

Stock Option Plans (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Outstanding options at the beginning of period, Shares	'	1,622,771	1,499,471	'
Options granted, Shares	156,700	156,700	160,000	160,000
Options exercised, Shares	'	0	-1,600	'
Options forfeited/ canceled, Shares	'	-210,767	'	'
Outstanding options at the end of period, Shares	1,568,704	1,568,704	1,657,871	1,657,871
Exercisable options at the end of period, Shares	977,035	977,035	1,123,070	1,123,070
Outstanding options at the beginning of period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	'	$11.31	$11.27	'
Options granted, Weighted Average Exercise Price	'	$8.49	$9.57	'
Options exercised, Weighted Average Exercise Price	'	'	$6.96	'
Options forfeited/ canceled, Weighted Average Exercise Price	'	$14.39	'	'
Outstanding options at the end of period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$10.61	$10.61	$11.11	$11.11
Exercisable options at the end of period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$11.95	$11.95	$12.36	$12.36

Summary_of_Outstanding_Options

Summary of Outstanding Options (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Number Outstanding	1,568,704	1,622,771	1,657,871	1,499,471
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in Years)	'6 years 3 months 18 days	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$10.61	$11.31	$11.11	$11.27
Options Exercisable, Number Exercisable	977,035	'	1,123,070	'
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$11.95	'	$12.36	'
$2.8751 - $ 5.7500	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Range of Exercise Price, Lower Range	$2.88	'	'	'
Range of Exercise Price, Upper Range	$5.75	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Number Outstanding	17,500	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in Years)	'5 years 3 months 18 days	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$2.95	'	'	'
Options Exercisable, Number Exercisable	17,500	'	'	'
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$2.95	'	'	'
$5.7501 - $8.6250	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Range of Exercise Price, Lower Range	$5.75	'	'	'
Range of Exercise Price, Upper Range	$8.63	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Number Outstanding	934,600	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in Years)	'7 years 7 months 6 days	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$7.93	'	'	'
Options Exercisable, Number Exercisable	499,600	'	'	'
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$7.77	'	'	'
$8.6251 - $14.3750	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Range of Exercise Price, Lower Range	$8.63	'	'	'
Range of Exercise Price, Upper Range	$14.38	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Number Outstanding	260,000	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in Years)	'8 years 9 months 18 days	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$9.77	'	'	'
Options Exercisable, Number Exercisable	103,331	'	'	'
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$10.50	'	'	'
$14.3751 - $17.2500	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Range of Exercise Price, Lower Range	$14.38	'	'	'
Range of Exercise Price, Upper Range	$17.25	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Number Outstanding	1,944	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in Years)	'4 months 24 days	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$15.99	'	'	'
Options Exercisable, Number Exercisable	1,944	'	'	'
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$15.99	'	'	'
$17.2501 - $20.1250	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Range of Exercise Price, Lower Range	$17.25	'	'	'
Range of Exercise Price, Upper Range	$20.13	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Number Outstanding	339,660	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in Years)	'9 months 18 days	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$18.23	'	'	'
Options Exercisable, Number Exercisable	339,660	'	'	'
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$18.23	'	'	'
$25.8751 - $28.7500	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Range of Exercise Price, Lower Range	$25.88	'	'	'
Range of Exercise Price, Upper Range	$28.75	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Number Outstanding	15,000	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in Years)	'3 years	'	'	'
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$28.75	'	'	'
Options Exercisable, Number Exercisable	15,000	'	'	'
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$28.75	'	'	'

Summary_of_Restricted_Stock_Tr

Summary of Restricted Stock Transactions (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'
Unvested at the beginning of period, Shares	102,321	10,922
Awards granted, Shares	'	102,321
Vested, Shares	-34,107	-10,922
Forfeited, Shares	'	'
Unvested at the end of period, Shares	68,214	102,321
Unvested at the beginning of period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$9.57	$7.63
Awards granted, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	'	$9.57
Vested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$9.57	$7.63
Forfeited, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	'	'
Unvested at the end of period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$9.57	$9.57

Stockholders_Equity_Additional

Stockholder's Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Dec. 13, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Dividend per share	$0.08	$0.02	'	'	'	'
Cash dividends	$1,030,000	$260,000	$0	'	'	'
Dividend payment, date of record	24-Dec-12	'	'	'	'	'
Dividend, date of payment	28-Dec-12	1-Nov-12	'	'	'	'
Stock repurchase program authorized amount	'	'	'	20,000,000	'	'
Aggregate cost	'	'	'	'	1,386,000	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'	-755,000	'	'	-674,000
Additional Stock	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Treasury stock, shares	'	'	'	'	151,000	'
Aggregate cost	'	'	'	'	1,386,000	'
Pegasus	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'	($17,000)	'	'	'

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Measur2

Fair Value of Financial Measurements (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Financial assets	'	'
Available-for-sale investments	$58,479,000	$58,035,000
Structured settlements	30,436,000	'
Financial liabilities	'	'
Non-Recourse Debt Bank of Montreal	33,132,000	35,760,000
Other debt - CBC, non-recourse notes payable with varying installments	13,767,000	'
Carrying Amount | Level 1	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Available-for-sale investments	58,479,000	58,035,000
Carrying Amount | Level 3	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation	55,131,000	57,900,000
Structured settlements	30,436,000	'
Financial liabilities	'	'
Non-Recourse Debt Bank of Montreal	33,132,000	35,760,000
Other debt - CBC, revolving line of credit	9,596,000	'
Other debt - CBC, non-recourse notes payable with varying installments	13,767,000	'
Fair Value | Level 1	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Available-for-sale investments	58,479,000	58,035,000
Fair Value | Level 3	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation	61,833,000	70,875,000
Structured settlements	30,436,000	'
Financial liabilities	'	'
Non-Recourse Debt Bank of Montreal	24,570,000	27,000,000
Other debt - CBC, revolving line of credit	9,596,000	'
Other debt - CBC, non-recourse notes payable with varying installments	$13,767,000	'