Encore Capital (ECPG) 10-Q 7 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 30, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Trading Symbol	'ECPG	'
Entity Registrant Name	'ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001084961	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	25,421,823

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets	'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	$110,156		$17,510
Investment in receivable portfolios, net	1,595,642		873,119
Deferred court costs, net	39,004		35,407
Receivables secured by property tax liens, net	186,190		135,100
Property and equipment, net	50,050		23,223
Other assets	120,441		31,535
Goodwill	489,520		55,446
Total assets	2,591,003	[1]	1,171,340	[1]
Liabilities:	'		'
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	106,632		45,450
Deferred tax liabilities, net	110,453		8,236
Debt	1,806,680		706,036
Other liabilities	6,967		5,802
Total liabilities	2,030,732	[1]	765,524	[1]
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	12,231		'
Commitments and contingencies	'		'
Stockholders' equity:	'		'
Convertible preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding	'		'
Common stock, $.01 par value, 50,000 shares authorized, 25,412 shares and 23,191 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	254		232
Additional paid-in capital	171,548		88,029
Accumulated earnings	371,676		319,329
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss)	455		-1,774
Total Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders' equity	543,933		405,816
Noncontrolling interest	4,107		'
Total stockholders' equity	548,040		405,816
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders' equity	$2,591,003		$1,171,340
[1]	The Company's consolidated assets as of September 30, 2013 included $1,067,007 of assets from its variable interest entity, or VIE, that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIE. These assets include cash and cash equivalents of $54,584; investment in receivable portfolios, net, of $596,160; property and equipment, net, of $14,249; other assets of $32,102; and goodwill of $369,912. The Company's consolidated liabilities as of September 30, 2013, included $864,432 of liabilities of its VIE, whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities include accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $31,817; deferred tax liabilities of $6,978; debt of 825,524; and other liabilities of $113. See further details of the assets and liabilities of the Company's VIE in Note 12, "Variable Interest Entity."

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Convertible preferred stock, par value	$0.01		$0.01
Convertible preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000		5,000
Convertible preferred stock, shares issued	'		'
Convertible preferred stock, shares outstanding	'		'
Common stock, par value	$0.01		$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	50,000		50,000
Common stock, shares issued	25,412		23,191
Common stock, shares outstanding	25,412		23,191
Total assets	$2,591,003	[1]	$1,171,340	[1]
Cash and cash equivalents	110,156		17,510
Investment in receivable portfolios, net	1,595,642		873,119
Property and equipment, net	50,050		23,223
Other assets	120,441		31,535
Goodwill	489,520		55,446
Total liabilities	2,030,732	[1]	765,524	[1]
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	106,632		45,450
Deferred tax liabilities, net	110,453		8,236
Debt	1,806,680		706,036
Other liabilities	6,967		5,802
Janus Holdings [Member]	'		'
Total assets	1,067,007		'
Cash and cash equivalents	54,584		'
Investment in receivable portfolios, net	596,160		'
Property and equipment, net	14,249		'
Other assets	32,102		'
Goodwill	369,912		'
Total liabilities	864,432		'
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	31,817		'
Deferred tax liabilities, net	6,978		'
Debt	825,524		'
Other liabilities	$113		'
[1]	The Company's consolidated assets as of September 30, 2013 included $1,067,007 of assets from its variable interest entity, or VIE, that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIE. These assets include cash and cash equivalents of $54,584; investment in receivable portfolios, net, of $596,160; property and equipment, net, of $14,249; other assets of $32,102; and goodwill of $369,912. The Company's consolidated liabilities as of September 30, 2013, included $864,432 of liabilities of its VIE, whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities include accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $31,817; deferred tax liabilities of $6,978; debt of 825,524; and other liabilities of $113. See further details of the assets and liabilities of the Company's VIE in Note 12, "Variable Interest Entity."

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues	'	'	'	'
Revenue from receivable portfolios, net	$225,387	$140,682	$518,094	$405,818
Other revenues	5,792	426	6,473	614
Net interest income - tax lien business	4,379	4,110	11,698	6,442
Total revenues	235,558	145,218	536,265	412,874
Operating expenses	'	'	'	'
Salaries and employee benefits	52,253	25,397	114,054	72,891
Cost of legal collections	50,953	43,544	137,694	123,203
Other operating expenses	19,056	14,829	46,118	38,854
Collection agency commissions	14,158	4,227	22,717	12,352
General and administrative expenses	33,486	14,091	77,429	46,331
Depreciation and amortization	4,523	1,533	8,527	4,193
Total operating expenses	174,429	103,621	406,539	297,824
Income from operations	61,129	41,597	129,726	115,050
Other (expense) income	'	'	'	'
Interest expense	-29,186	-7,012	-43,522	-19,024
Other (expense) income	-299	610	-4,262	771
Total other expense	-29,485	-6,402	-47,784	-18,253
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	31,644	35,195	81,942	96,797
Provision for income taxes	-10,272	-13,887	-30,110	-38,393
Income from continuing operations	21,372	21,308	51,832	58,404
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	-308	'	-308	-9,094
Net income	21,064	21,308	51,524	49,310
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	822	'	822	'
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	21,886	21,308	52,346	49,310
Amounts attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc.:	'	'	'	'
Income from continuing operations	22,194	21,308	52,654	58,404
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	-308	'	-308	-9,094
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	$21,886	$21,308	$52,346	$49,310
Basic earnings (loss) per share from:	'	'	'	'
Continuing operations	$0.87	$0.85	$2.16	$2.34
Discontinued operations	($0.01)	'	($0.01)	($0.36)
Net basic earnings per share	$0.86	$0.85	$2.15	$1.98
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from:	'	'	'	'
Continuing operations	$0.82	$0.82	$2.06	$2.25
Discontinued operations	($0.01)	'	($0.01)	($0.35)
Net diluted earnings per share	$0.81	$0.82	$2.05	$1.90
Weighted average shares outstanding:	'	'	'	'
Basic	25,535	25,071	24,323	24,930
Diluted	27,183	26,047	25,561	25,920

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Net income	$21,064	$21,308	$51,524	$49,310
Other comprehensive (loss) gain, net of tax:	'	'	'	'
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments	-768	1,841	-1,722	1,205
Unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency translation	4,648	'	3,951	-472
Other comprehensive gain, net of tax	3,880	1,841	2,229	733
Comprehensive income	24,944	23,149	53,753	50,043
Comprehensive gain attributable to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	822	'	822	'
Unrealized gain on foreign currency translation	-2,633	'	-2,633	'
Comprehensive gain attributable to noncontrolling interests	-1,811	'	-1,811	'
Comprehensive income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	$23,133	$23,149	$51,942	$50,043

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Operating activities:	'	'
Net income	$51,524	$49,310
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	8,527	4,193
Impairment charge for goodwill and identifiable intangible assets	'	10,400
Amortization of loan costs and premium on receivables secured by tax liens	5,411	2,091
Stock-based compensation expense	9,163	6,710
Recognized loss on termination of derivative contract	3,630	'
Deferred income taxes	-217	1,823
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payment arrangements	-5,238	-3,600
Loss on sale of discontinued operations	'	2,416
Reversal for allowances on receivable portfolios, net	-7,658	-1,506
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions	'	'
Other assets	-647	-20
Deferred court costs	2,544	945
Prepaid income tax and income taxes payable	-25,785	-8,407
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities	-1,388	1,798
Net cash provided by operating activities	39,866	66,153
Investing activities:	'	'
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	-413,055	-186,731
Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of put-backs	-156,438	-406,865
Collections applied to investment in receivable portfolios, net	418,024	313,205
Originations and purchases of receivables secured by tax liens	-100,278	-22,912
Collections applied to receivables secured by tax liens	51,111	24,967
Payment on termination of derivative contract	-3,630	'
Purchases of property and equipment	-8,178	-3,665
Other	-1,950	'
Net cash used in investing activities	-214,394	-282,001
Financing activities:	'	'
Payment of loan costs	-17,152	-1,832
Proceeds from credit facilities	522,065	390,399
Repayment of credit facilities	-491,462	-163,048
Proceeds from senior secured notes	151,670	'
Repayment of senior secured notes	-10,000	'
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes	172,500	'
Repayment of preferred equity certificates	-39,743	'
Payment of convertible hedge transactions	-18,113	'
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards	-9,270	-2,287
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payment arrangements	5,238	3,600
Other	-1,073	232
Net cash provided by financing activities	264,660	227,064
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	90,132	11,216
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	2,514	'
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	17,510	8,047
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	110,156	19,263
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:	'	'
Cash paid for interest	48,243	18,634
Cash paid for income taxes	54,499	36,840
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:	'	'
Fixed assets acquired through capital lease	$1,189	$2,817

Ownership_Description_of_Busin

Ownership, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Ownership, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'
	Note 1: Ownership, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Encore Capital Group, Inc. (“Encore”), through its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), is a global leading provider of debt recovery solutions for consumers and property owners across a broad range of financial assets. The Company purchases portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables at deep discounts to face value and manages them by working with individuals as they repay their obligations and work toward financial recovery. Defaulted receivables are consumers’ unpaid financial commitments to credit originators, including banks, credit unions, consumer finance companies, commercial retailers, and telecommunication companies. Defaulted receivables may also include receivables subject to bankruptcy proceedings. Encore’s subsidiary, Janus Holdings Luxembourg S.a.r.l. (“Janus Holdings”), through its indirectly held United Kingdom based subsidiary Cabot Credit Management Limited (“Cabot”), is a market leader in debt management in the United Kingdom specializing in higher balance, “semi-performing” accounts. In addition, through Encore’s subsidiary, Propel Financial Services, LLC (“Propel”), the Company assists Texas and Nevada property owners who are delinquent on their property taxes by paying these taxes on behalf of the property owners in exchange for payment agreements collateralized by the existing tax liens on the property. Propel also acquires tax lien certificates directly from taxing authorities outside of Texas.
	Portfolio Purchasing and Recovery
	United States. The Company purchases receivable portfolios based on robust, account-level valuation methods and employs a suite of proprietary statistical and behavioral models across the full extent of its operations. These investments allow the Company to value portfolios accurately (and limit the risk of overpaying), avoid buying portfolios that are incompatible with its methods or goals and precisely align the accounts it purchases with its operational channels to maximize future collections. As a result, the Company has been able to realize significant returns from the receivables it acquires. The Company maintains strong relationships with many of the largest credit and telecommunication providers, and possesses one of the industry’s best collection staff retention rates.
	The Company uses insights discovered during its purchasing process to build account collection strategies. The Company’s proprietary consumer-level collectability analysis is the primary determinant of whether an account will be actively serviced post-purchase. The Company continuously refines this analysis to determine the most effective collection strategy to pursue for each account it owns. After the Company’s preliminary analysis, it seeks to collect on only a fraction of the accounts it purchases, through one or more of its collection channels. The channel identification process is analogous to a funneling system, where the Company first differentiates those consumers who it believes are not able to pay from those who are able to pay. Consumers who the Company believes are financially incapable of making any payments, facing extenuating circumstances or hardships (such as medical issues), serving in the military, or currently receiving social security as their only source of income are excluded from the next step of its collection process and are designated as inactive. The remaining pool of accounts in the funnel then receives further evaluation. At that point, the Company analyzes and determines a consumer’s perceived willingness to pay. Based on that analysis, the Company will pursue collections through letters and/or phone calls to its consumers. Despite its efforts to reach consumers and work out a settlement option, only a small number of consumers who are contacted choose to engage with the Company. Those who do are often offered deep discounts on their obligations, or are presented with payment plans that are better suited to meet their daily cash flow needs. The majority of contacted consumers, however, ignore both the Company’s calls and letters, and therefore the Company must then make the difficult decision whether or not to pursue collections through legal means.
	The Company continually monitors applicable changes to laws governing statutes of limitations and disclosures to consumers. The Company maintains policies, system controls, and processes designed to ensure that accounts past the applicable statute of limitations do not get placed into legal collections. Additionally, in written and verbal communications with consumers, the Company provides disclosures to the consumer that the account is past its applicable statute of limitations and, therefore, the Company will not pursue collections through legal means.
	United Kingdom. Through Cabot, portfolio receivables are purchased using a proprietary pricing model. This model allows Cabot to value portfolios with a high degree of accuracy and quantify portfolio performance in order to maximize future collections. As a result, Cabot has been able to realize significant returns from the assets it has acquired. Cabot maintains strong relationships with many of the largest financial service providers in the United Kingdom.
	Cabot also uses insights discovered during its purchasing process to build account collection strategies. Cabot’s proprietary consumer-level collectability analysis is the primary determinant of how an account will be serviced post-purchase. Cabot continuously refines this analysis to determine the most effective collection strategy to pursue for each account it owns. In recent years, Cabot has concentrated on buying portfolios that are described as semi-performing in which over 50% of accounts have made a payment in three of the last four months immediately prior to the portfolio purchase. Cabot will try to establish contact with these consumers in order to transfer payment arrangements and gauge the willingness of these consumers to pay. Consumers who Cabot believes are financially incapable of making any payments, those having negative disposable income, or those experiencing hardships (such as medical issues or mental incapacity), are placed on hold and handled outside of normal collections routines.
	The remaining pool of accounts in the funnel then receives further evaluation. At that point, Cabot analyzes and determines a consumer’s perceived willingness to pay. Based on that analysis, Cabot pursues collections through letters and/or phone calls to its consumers. Where contact is made and consumers indicate a willingness to pay, a patient approach of forbearance is applied using regulatory protocols within the United Kingdom to assess affordability and ensure that plans are fair and balanced and therefore sustainable.
	Where consumers are not locatable or refuse to engage in a constructive dialogue, Cabot will pass these accounts through a litigation scorecard and rule set in order to assess suitability for legal action.
	Tax Lien Business
	Propel’s principal activities are the acquisition and servicing of residential and commercial tax liens on real property. These liens take priority over most other liens. By funding tax liens, Propel provides state and local taxing authorities and governments with much needed tax revenue. To the extent permitted by local law, Propel works with property owners to structure affordable payment plans designed to allow them to keep their property while paying their property tax obligation over time. Propel maintains a foreclosure rate of less than one-half of one percent.
	Propel’s receivables secured by property tax liens include tax lien transfers (“TLTs”) and tax lien certificates (“TLCs”). With TLTs, property owners choose to have the taxing authority transfer their tax lien to Propel. Propel pays their tax lien obligation to the taxing authority and the property owner pays Propel over time at a lower interest rate than is being assessed by the taxing authority. TLTs provide property owners with repayment plans that are both affordable and flexible when compared with other payment options. Propel also purchases TLCs directly from taxing authorities, securing rights to future property tax payments, interest and penalties. In most cases, TLCs continue to be serviced by the taxing authority. When the taxing authority is paid, it repays the Company the outstanding balance of the lien plus interest, which is negotiated at the time of the purchase.
	Financial Statement Preparation and Presentation
	The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by Encore, without audit, in accordance with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and, therefore, do not include all information and footnotes necessary for a fair presentation of its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).
	In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial information for the interim periods presented reflects all adjustments, consisting of only normal and recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of operating results for an entire fiscal year.
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and the disclosure of contingent amounts in the Company’s financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
	Basis of Consolidation
	The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, and reflect the accounts and operations of the Company and those of its subsidiaries in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. The Company also consolidates Variable Interest Entities (“VIE”), for which it is the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary has both (a) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affect the entity’s economic performance, and (b) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits. The Company has determined that its less than wholly owned subsidiary Janus Holdings is a VIE, and the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. As a result, the financial results of Janus Holdings are consolidated under the VIE consolidation model. Refer to Note 12, “Variable Interest Entity,” for further details. The Company evaluates its relationships with the VIE on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to be the primary beneficiary. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
	Translation of Foreign Currencies
	The financial statements of Janus Holdings are measured using their local currency Great British Pounds as the functional currency. Janus Holdings assets and liabilities are translated as of the end of the balance sheet date and revenue and expenses are translated at an average rate over the period. Currency translation adjustments are recorded as a component of other comprehensive income. Transaction gains and losses are included in other (expense) income.
	Reclassifications
	Certain immaterial amounts in the 2012 consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2013 presentation.

Discontinued_Operations

Discontinued Operations	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Discontinued Operations And Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'
Discontinued Operations	'
	Note 2: Discontinued Operations
	On May 16, 2012, the Company completed the sale of substantially all of the assets and certain of the liabilities of its bankruptcy servicing subsidiary, Ascension Capital Group, Inc. (“Ascension”), to a subsidiary of American InfoSource, L.P. (“AIS”). As part of the sale, the Company agreed to fund certain agreed-upon operating losses in the first year of AIS’ ownership of the Ascension business, not to exceed $4.0 million. If the Ascension business becomes profitable under AIS’ ownership, the Company will be paid an earn-out equal to 40% of Ascension’s EBITDA for the first five years commencing May 16, 2012. The Company received no proceeds from the sale and recognized the entire $4.0 million loss contingency during the second quarter of 2012. Additionally, the Company did not receive any earn-out from AIS during the first year subsequent to the sale.
	During the quarter ending September 30, 2013, the Company incurred $0.5 million in expense related to Ascension, which is presented as a discontinued operation in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012. The following table presents the revenue and loss from discontinued operations (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
		September 30,					September 30,
		2013			2012		2013			2012
	Revenue	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	5,704
	Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes	$	(500	)	$	—	$	(500	)	$	(11,942	)
	Income tax benefit		192			—		192			4,678
	Loss from discontinued operations		(308	)		—		(308	)		(7,264	)
	Loss on sale of discontinued operations, before income taxes		—			—		—			(2,416	)
	Income tax benefit		—			—		—			586
	Loss on sale of discontinued operations		—			—		—			(1,830	)
	Total loss from discontinued operations	$	(308	)	$	—	$	(308	)	$	(9,094	)

Business_Combinations

Business Combinations	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Business Combinations	'
	Note 3: Business Combinations
	Cabot Acquisition
	On July 1, 2013, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Encore Europe Holdings S.a.r.l. (“Encore Europe”), completed its acquisition (the “Cabot Acquisition”) of 50.1% of the equity interest in Janus Holdings, the indirect holding company of United Kingdom based Cabot from certain funds advised by J.C. Flowers & Co. LLC (“J.C. Flowers”) pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement (as amended, the “Purchase Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement, Encore Europe purchased from J.C. Flowers: (i) E Bridge preferred equity certificates issued by Janus Holdings, with a face value of £10,218,574 (and any accrued interest thereof) (the “E Bridge PECs”), (ii) E preferred equity certificates issued by Janus Holdings with a face value of £96,729,661 (and any accrued interest thereof) (the “E PECs”), (iii) 3,498,563 E shares of Janus Holdings (the “E Shares”), and (iv) 100 A shares of Cabot Holdings S.a.r.l. (“ Cabot Holdings”), the direct subsidiary of Janus Holdings, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately £115.1 million. The E Bridge PECs, E PECs, and E Shares represent 50.1% of all of the issued and outstanding equity and debt securities of Janus Holdings. The remaining 49.9% of Janus Holdings’ equity and debt securities are owned by J.C. Flowers and include: (a) J Bridge preferred equity certificates with a face value of £10,177,781 (the “J Bridge PECs”) (represents the amount after the partial redemption of the J Bridge PECs contemplated in the Purchase Agreement and discussed in Note 11, “Debt”), (b) J preferred equity certificates with a face value of £96,343,515 (the “J PECs”), (c) 3,484,597 J shares of Janus Holdings (the “J Shares”), and (d) 100 A shares of Cabot Holdings.
	Through its acquisition of Janus Holdings, the Company’s effective equity ownership of Cabot will amount to approximately 42.9%, after reflecting the ownership of the noncontrolling interests and the redemption or conversion of the E Bridge PECS and the J Bridge PECs. The E Bridge PECs and the J Bridge PECs may be redeemed at any time prior to June 18, 2014. Any E Bridge PECs and J Bridge PECs that remain unredeemed as of June 18, 2014 will be converted into E Shares and E PECs, or J Shares and J PECs, as the case may be, in proportion to the number of E Shares and E PECs, or J Shares and J PECs, as applicable, outstanding on the closing date of the Cabot Acquisition. The E Bridge PECs, E PECs, J Bridge PECs and J PECs accrue interest at 12% per annum.
	The following diagram summarizes Cabot’s corporate structure after the Company’s completion of the Cabot Acquisition. Encore has no interest in the J.C. Flowers entities or the employee benefit trust and they are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
	LOGO
	The Cabot Acquisition was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting and, accordingly, the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the date of the acquisition. Fair value measurements have been applied based on assumptions that market participants would use in the pricing of the respective assets and liabilities. As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company is still finalizing the allocation of the purchase price. The initial purchase price allocation presented below was based on the preliminary assessment of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which is subject to change based on the final valuation study that is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2014.
	The components of the preliminary purchase price allocation for the Cabot Acquisition are as follows (in thousands):
	Purchase price:
	Cash paid at acquisition	$	177,246
	Allocation of purchase price:
	Cash	$	57,520
	Investment in receivable portfolios		558,951
	Property and equipment		13,672
	Other assets		20,772
	Preferred equity certificates assumed		(211,549	)
	Debt assumed		(559,907	)
	Other liabilities assumed		(44,727	)
	Redeemable noncontrolling interests		(12,064	)
	Noncontrolling interests		(4,051	)
	Identifiable intangible assets		7,011
	Goodwill		351,618
	Total net assets acquired	$	177,246
	The goodwill recognized is primarily attributable to (i) the ability to capitalize on Cabot’s existing operating platform to gain immediate access to the debt management business in Europe and (ii) substantial synergies that are expected to be achieved through Cabot’s ability to leverage the Company’s analytic capacities and efficient operating platform. The entire goodwill of $351.6 million related to the Cabot Acquisition was assigned to the Company’s portfolio purchasing reporting unit and is not deductible for income tax purposes.
	As discussed above, the Company purchased a majority interest in Janus Holdings. The Company has determined that Janus Holdings is a VIE and the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. In accordance with authoritative guidance, the Company consolidates the financial results of Janus Holdings under the VIE consolidation model. The J Bridge PECs, J PECs, and any accrued interest are legal form debt, and are included as debt in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In addition, certain other minority owners hold preferred equity certificates at the Cabot Holdings level. These preferred equity certificates and accrued interests are also included as debt. The Company’s preliminary valuation study indicated that the fair value of these preferred equity certificates approximates face value. The J shares represent noncontrolling interest at the Janus Holdings level, and the 100 A shares owned by J.C. Flowers represent noncontrolling interest at the Cabot Holdings level, and have been fair valued at the time of acquisition.
	In connection with the Cabot Acquisition, the Company entered into an Investors Agreement with J.C. Flowers. Pursuant to the Investors Agreement, J.C. Flowers has the right, at certain times, to offer to sell its interest in Janus Holdings to the Company. The Company would then have the right, but not the obligation, to acquire J.C. Flowers’ interest at the offered price, or allow J.C. Flowers to offer Janus Holdings for sale to others. As a result, the noncontrolling interests owned by J.C. Flowers have been reflected as redeemable noncontrolling interests in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. The remaining noncontrolling interests represent other minority owners’ share of interests in Cabot Holdings.
	Total acquisition and integration costs related to the Cabot Acquisition were approximately $3.3 million and $6.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and have been expensed in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income within general and administrative expenses.
	The amount of revenue and net income included in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of income for the three months ended September 30, 2013 directly related to the Cabot Acquisition, excluding the acquisition and integration costs, was $46.5 million and $4.4 million, respectively. The revenue and loss for the three months ended September 30, 2013 at Janus Holdings was $46.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively. This loss is due to the fact that Janus Holdings recognizes all interest expense related to the outstanding preferred equity certificates owed to Encore, J.C. Flowers, and management. The loss attributable to noncontrolling interests included in the Company’s consolidated statement of income of $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 represents the total loss at Janus Holdings of $1.4 million multiplied by the noncontrolling ownership interest of 57.1%. The difference of $5.8 million between what was included in the Company’s financial statements and what was reported by Janus Holdings, represents Encore’s share of preferred equity certificate interest income recognized at Encore Europe and the loss attributable to noncontrolling interests.
	The following table summarizes the operating performance of Janus Holdings and Encore Europe (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Janus Holdings			Encore Europe		Encore Europe
							Consolidated
	Total revenues	$	46,472		$	—	$	46,472
	Total operating expenses		(23,640	)		—		(23,640	)
	Income from operations		22,832			—		22,832
	Interest expense – non-PEC		(12,319	)		—		(12,319	)
	PEC interest (expense) income		(10,875	)		4,998		(5,877	)
	Other income		96			—		96
	(Loss) income before income taxes		(266	)		4,998		4,732
	Provision for income taxes		(1,174	)		—		(1,174	)
	Net (loss) income		(1,440	)		4,998		3,558
	Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		822			—		822
	Net (loss) income attributable to Encore	$	(618	)	$	4,998	$	4,380
	AACC Merger
	On June 13, 2013, the Company completed its merger (the “AACC Merger”) with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. (“AACC”), a leading provider of debt management and recovery solutions in the United States. The purchase price consisted of $150.8 million in cash consideration and 1.7 million shares of Encore common stock valued at $37.30 per share. In addition, the Company paid off approximately $165.7 million of AACC debt on the closing date of the AACC Merger.
	The AACC Merger was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting and, accordingly, the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the date of the merger. Fair value measurements have been applied based on assumptions that market participants would use in the pricing of the respective assets and liabilities. As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company is still finalizing the allocation of the purchase price. The initial purchase price allocation presented below was based on the preliminary assessment of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which is subject to change based on the final valuation study that is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2014.
	The components of the preliminary purchase price allocation for the AACC Merger are as follows (in thousands):
	Purchase price:
	Cash paid at acquisition	$	316,485
	Stock consideration		62,352
	Total purchase price	$	378,837
	Allocation of purchase price:
	Cash	$	23,156
	Investment in receivable portfolios		381,233
	Deferred court costs		6,141
	Property and equipment		11,003
	Other assets		16,004
	Liabilities assumed		(128,341	)
	Identifiable intangible assets		1,470
	Goodwill		68,171
	Total net assets acquired	$	378,837
	The entire goodwill of $68.2 million related to AACC was assigned to the Company’s portfolio purchasing reporting unit and is not deductible for income tax purposes. The goodwill recognized is primarily attributable to expected synergies when combining AACC with the Company.
	Total acquisition and integration costs related to the AACC Merger were approximately $1.8 million and $7.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and were expensed in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income within general and administrative expenses. The amount of revenue and net income included in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of income for the three months ended September 30, 2013 related to AACC was $49.1 million and $7.3 million, respectively. The amount of revenue and net income included in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of income for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 related to AACC was $59.1 million and $8.2 million, respectively.
The following summary presents unaudited pro forma consolidated results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 as if the Cabot Acquisition and AACC Merger had occurred on January 1, 2012. The following unaudited pro forma financial information does not necessarily reflect the actual results that would have occurred had Encore, Cabot, and AACC been combined during the periods presented, nor is it necessarily indicative of the future results of operations of the combined companies (in thousands):
	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	September 30,					September 30,
	2013			2012		2013			2012
Consolidated pro forma revenue	$	235,558		$	236,693	$	712,237		$	693,718
Consolidated pro forma income from continuing operations attributable to Encore		22,194			27,743		68,731			75,928

Earnings_per_Share

Earnings per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings per Share	'
	Note 4: Earnings per Share
	Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net earnings attributable to Encore by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of common stock plus the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method. Dilutive potential common shares include outstanding stock options, restricted stock, and the dilutive effect of the convertible senior notes.
	A reconciliation of shares used in calculating earnings per basic and diluted shares follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic		25,535		25,071		24,323		24,930
	Dilutive effect of stock-based awards		843		976		940		990
	Dilutive effect of convertible senior notes		805		—		298		—
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted		27,183		26,047		25,561		25,920
	No anti-dilutive employee stock options were outstanding during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013. Employee stock options to purchase approximately 210,000 and 335,000 shares of common stock during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect on diluted earnings per share would be anti-dilutive.
	For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, diluted earnings per share includes the effect of common shares issuable upon conversion of the Company’s convertible senior notes due 2017. During the periods, the notes were convertible at a conversion price equivalent to approximately $31.56 per share of the Company’s common stock as a result of the conditions of the notes. As a result, the amount in excess of the principal is presumed to be settled in common shares and is reflected in the calculation of diluted earnings per share. However, as described in Note 11, “Debt—Convertible Senior Notes—2017 Convertible Senior Notes,” the convertible note hedge transactions and warrant transactions entered into in connection with the notes have the effect of increasing the effective conversion price of those notes to $44.1875 per share. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company’s convertible senior notes were not convertible at a premium and thus the impact of an assumed conversion was not applicable.
	In conjunction with the issuance of convertible senior notes due 2017, the Company sold warrants to purchase approximately 3.6 million shares of its common stock. As of September 30, 2013, all of these warrants were outstanding but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the warrants’ exercise price of $44.1875 was greater than the average share price of the Company’s common stock during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013; therefore, the effect of the warrants was anti-dilutive for those periods.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	Note 5: Fair Value Measurements
	The authoritative guidance for fair value measurements defines fair value as the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or the price paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e., the “exit price”). The guidance utilizes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in valuation techniques to measure fair value into three broad levels. The following is a brief description of each level:
		•		Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
		•		Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
		•		Level 3: Unobservable inputs, including inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.
	Financial Instruments Required To Be Carried At Fair Value
	Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below (in thousands):
			Fair Value Measurements as of
			30-Sep-13
			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Assets
	Interest rate cap		$	—		$	206		$	—		$	206
	Liabilities
	Interest rate swap agreements		$	—		$	(139	)	$	—		$	(139	)
	Foreign currency exchange contracts			—			(5,567	)		—			(5,567	)
	Temporary Equity
	Redeemable noncontrolling interests		$	—		$	—		$	(12,231	)	$	(12,231	)
			Fair Value Measurements as of
			December 31, 2012
			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Liabilities
	Interest rate swap agreements		$	—		$	(645	)	$	—		$	(645	)
	Foreign currency exchange contracts			—			(2,010	)		—			(2,010	)
	Derivative Contracts:
	The Company uses derivative instruments to minimize its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. The Company’s derivative instruments primarily include interest rate swap agreements and foreign currency exchange contracts. Fair values of these derivative instruments are estimated using industry standard valuation models. These models project future cash flows and discount the future amounts to a present value using market-based observable inputs, including interest rate curves, foreign currency exchange rates, and forward and spot prices for currencies.
	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests:
	As discussed in Note 3, “Business Combinations,” the minority shareholder in the Company’s Janus Holdings subsidiary, J.C. Flowers, has the right, at certain times, to offer to sell its interest in Janus Holdings to the Company. The Company would then have the right, but not the obligation, to acquire J.C. Flowers’ interest at the offered price, or allow J.C. Flowers to offer Janus Holdings for sale to others. The noncontrolling interests subject to this arrangement are included in temporary equity as redeemable noncontrolling interests, and are adjusted to their estimated redemption amounts each reporting period with a corresponding adjustment to additional paid-in capital. Future reductions in the carrying amounts are subject to a “floor” amount that is equal to the fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests at the time they were originally recorded. The recorded value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests cannot go below the floor level. These adjustments will not affect the calculation of earnings per share. There is no change in fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interests for the three months ended September 30, 2013. The components of the change in the redeemable noncontrolling interests for the periods ended September 30, 2013 are presented in the following table:
			September 30,
			2013
	Balance at beginning of period		$	—
	Initial redeemable noncontrolling interest related to business combination			12,064
	Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests			(615	)
	Effect of foreign currency translation attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests			782
	Balance at end of period		$	12,231
	Financial Instruments Not Required To Be Carried At Fair Value
	Investment in Receivable Portfolios:
	The Company records its investment in receivable portfolios at cost, which represents a significant discount from the contractual receivable balances due. The Company computes the fair value of its investment in receivable portfolios by discounting the estimated future cash flows generated by its proprietary forecasting models, using an estimated market participant cost to collect of approximately 50.3% and a discount rate of approximately 12.0% for United States portfolios and an estimated market participant cost to collect of approximately 29.7% and a discount rate of approximately 18.2% for United Kingdom portfolios. Using this method, the fair value of investment in receivable portfolios approximates book value as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. A 100 basis point fluctuation in the cost to collect and discount rate used would result in an increase or decrease in the fair value by approximately $37.9 million and $18.3 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2013. This fair value calculation does not represent, and should not be construed to represent, the underlying value of the Company or the amount which could be realized if its investment in receivable portfolios were sold. The carrying value of the investment in receivable portfolios was $1.6 billion and $873.1 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
	Deferred Court Costs:
	The Company capitalizes deferred court costs and provides a reserve for those costs that it believes will ultimately be uncollectible. The carrying value of net deferred court costs approximates fair value.
	Receivables Secured By Property Tax Liens:
	The fair value of receivables secured by property tax liens is estimated as follows: for TLT receivables, the fair value is estimated by discounting the future cash flows of the portfolio using a discount rate equivalent to the current rate at which similar portfolios would be originated and; for TLC receivables, the fair value is estimated by discounting the expected future cash flows of the portfolio using a discount rate equivalent to the interest rate expected when acquiring these certificates. The carrying value of receivables secured by property tax liens approximates fair value. Additionally, the carrying value of the related interest receivable also approximates fair value.
	Debt:
	Encore’s senior secured notes and borrowings under its revolving credit and term loan facilities are carried at historical amount, adjusted for additional borrowings less principal repayments, which approximate fair value.
	Encore’s convertible senior notes are carried at historical cost, adjusted for the debt discount. The carrying value of the convertible senior notes was $287.5 million, net of debt discount of $43.8 million, and $115.0 million, net of debt discount of $14.4 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The fair value estimate for these convertible senior notes incorporates quoted market prices, which was approximately $384.7 million and $128.3 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
	Cabot’s senior secured notes due 2019 are carried at the fair value determined at the time of the Cabot Acquisition. Cabot’s senior secured notes due 2020 are carried at historical cost. The carrying values of both the Cabot senior secured notes approximate their respective fair values.
	Cabot’s senior revolving credit facility is carried at historical costs, adjusted for additional borrowings less principal repayments, which approximate fair value.
	The Company’s preferred equity certificates are legal obligations to the noncontrolling shareholders at its Janus Holdings and Cabot Holdings subsidiaries. They are carried at the face amount, plus any accrued interest. The Company determined, at the time of the Cabot Acquisition and at September 30, 2013, that the carrying value of these preferred equity certificates approximates fair value.

Derivatives_and_Hedging_Instru

Derivatives and Hedging Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

'

Derivatives and Hedging Instruments

'

Note 6: Derivatives and Hedging Instruments

The Company uses derivative instruments to manage risks related to interest rates and foreign currency. The Company’s outstanding interest rate swap contracts and foreign currency exchange contracts qualify for hedge accounting treatment under the authoritative guidance for derivatives and hedging. The Company’s Cabot subsidiary also holds an interest rate cap that is used to manage its risk related to interest rate fluctuations. The Company does not apply hedge accounting on the interest rate cap contract. The impact of the interest rate cap contract to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the three months ended September 30, 2013, was immaterial.

Interest Rate Swaps

The Company may periodically enter into derivative financial instruments, typically interest rate swap agreements, to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on variable interest rate debt and their impact on earnings and cash flows. As of September 30, 2013, the Company had three interest rate swap agreements outstanding with a total notional amount of $75.0 million. Under the swap agreements, the Company receives floating interest rate payments based on one-month reserve-adjusted LIBOR and makes interest payments based on fixed interest rates. The Company intends to continue electing the one-month reserve-adjusted LIBOR as the benchmark interest rate on the debt being hedged through its term. No credit spread was hedged. The Company designates its interest rate swap instruments as cash flow hedges.

The authoritative accounting guidance requires companies to recognize derivative instruments as either an asset or liability measured at fair value in the statement of financial position. The effective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative instrument is recorded in other comprehensive income (“OCI”). The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative instrument, if any, is recognized in interest expense in the period of change. From the inception of the hedging program, the Company has determined that the hedging instruments are highly effective.

Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

The Company has operations in India, which exposes the Company to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations due to transactions denominated in Indian rupees, such as employee salaries and rent expenditures. To mitigate this risk, the Company enters into derivative financial instruments, principally forward contracts, which are designated as cash flow hedges, to mitigate fluctuations in the cash payments of future forecasted transactions in Indian rupees for up to 36 months. The Company adjusts the level and use of derivatives as soon as practicable after learning that an exposure has changed and reviews all exposures and derivative positions on an ongoing basis.

Gains and losses on cash flow hedges are recorded in OCI until the hedged transaction is recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Once the underlying transaction is recorded in the consolidated financial statements, the Company reclassifies the OCI on the derivative into earnings. If all or a portion of the forecasted transaction is cancelled, this would render all or a portion of the cash flow hedge ineffective and the Company would reclassify the ineffective portion of the hedge into earnings. The Company generally does not experience ineffectiveness of the hedge relationship and the accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any such gains or losses.

As of September 30, 2013, the total notional amount of the forward contracts to buy Indian rupees in exchange for United States dollars was $52.8 million. As of September 30, 2013, all outstanding contracts qualified for hedge accounting treatment. The Company estimates that approximately $2.2 million of net derivative loss included in OCI will be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months. No gains or losses were reclassified from OCI into earnings as a result of forecasted transactions that failed to occur during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.

The Company may periodically enter into other foreign currency exchange contracts to mitigate its risk that cash flows and earnings will be adversely affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. In anticipation of the Cabot Acquisition, on June 7, 2013, the Company entered into a European style zero-cost collar foreign exchange contract with a notional amount of £132.1 million (approximately $206.0 million), which was equal to the anticipated purchase price for the Cabot Acquisition. The collar was set to expire on August 13, 2013, which was the anticipated date of closing of the Cabot Acquisition. The collar was used to offset the risk of changes in the foreign exchange rate relating to the purchase price for the Company’s interest in Janus Holdings. The Company did not apply hedge accounting on this foreign exchange contract. Due to the early closing of the Cabot Acquisition, the foreign exchange contract was terminated on June 28, 2013 at a loss of $3.6 million, which was recorded as other expenses in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of income in the second quarter of 2013 and is included in the nine months ended September 30, 2013. This foreign exchange loss was offset by a decrease in the estimated purchase price for Cabot of approximately $4.3 million.

The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

The following table summarizes the fair value of derivative instruments as recorded in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition (in thousands):

September 30, 2013

December 31, 2012

Balance Sheet

Fair Value

Balance Sheet

Fair Value

Location

Location

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

Interest rate swaps

Other liabilities

$

(139

)

Other liabilities

$

(645

)

Foreign currency exchange contracts

Other liabilities

(5,567

)

Other liabilities

(2,010

)

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

Interest rate cap

Other assets

206

Gain or (Loss)

Location of Gain

Gain or (Loss)

Location of

Amount of

Recognized in OCI-

or (Loss)

Reclassified

Gain or (Loss)

Gain or (Loss)

Effective Portion

Reclassified from

from OCI into

Recognized -

Recognized -

OCI into

Income - Effective

Ineffective

Ineffective

Income - Effective

Portion

Portion and

Portion and

Portion

Amount

Amount

Excluded from

Excluded from

Effectiveness

Effectiveness

Testing

Testing

Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,

September 30,

2013

2012

2013

2012

2013

2012

Interest rate swaps

$

132

$

62

Interest expense

$

—

$

—

Other (expense) income

$

—

$

—

Foreign currency exchange contracts

(1,871

)

2,131

Salaries and employee benefits

(622

)

(389

)

Other (expense) income

—

—

Foreign currency exchange contracts

(381

)

377

General and administrative expenses

(119

)

(69

)

Other (expense) income

—

—

Gain or (Loss)

Location of Gain

Gain or (Loss)

Location of

Amount of

Recognized in OCI-

or (Loss)

Reclassified

Gain or (Loss)

Gain or (Loss)

Effective Portion

Reclassified from

from OCI into

Recognized -

Recognized -

OCI into

Income - Effective

Ineffective

Ineffective

Income - Effective

Portion

Portion and

Portion and

Portion

Amount

Amount

Excluded from

Excluded from

Effectiveness

Effectiveness

Testing

Testing

Nine Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,

September 30,

2013

2012

2013

2012

2013

2012

Interest rate swaps

$

506

$

(9

)

Interest expense

$

—

$

—

Other (expense) income

$

—

$

—

Foreign currency exchange contracts

(3,809

)

(69

)

Salaries and

(890

)

(946

)

Other (expense) income

—

—

employee

benefits

Foreign currency exchange contracts

(809

)

173

General and

(171

)

(164

)

Other (expense) income

—

—

administrative

expenses

Investment_in_Receivable_Portf

Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net	'
	Note 7: Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net
	In accordance with the authoritative guidance for loans and debt securities acquired with deteriorated credit quality, discrete receivable portfolio purchases during a quarter are aggregated into pools based on common risk characteristics. Once a static pool is established, the portfolios are permanently assigned to the pool. The discount (i.e., the difference between the cost of each static pool and the related aggregate contractual receivable balance) is not recorded because the Company expects to collect a relatively small percentage of each static pool’s contractual receivable balance. As a result, receivable portfolios are recorded at cost at the time of acquisition. The purchase cost of the portfolios includes certain fees paid to third parties incurred in connection with the direct acquisition of the receivable portfolios.
	In compliance with the authoritative guidance, the Company accounts for its investments in receivable portfolios using either the interest method or the cost recovery method. The interest method applies an internal rate of return (“IRR”) to the cost basis of the pool, which remains unchanged throughout the life of the pool, unless there is an increase in subsequent expected cash flows. Subsequent increases in expected cash flows are generally recognized prospectively through an upward adjustment of the pool’s IRR over its remaining life. Subsequent decreases in expected cash flows do not change the IRR, but are recognized as an allowance to the cost basis of the pool, and are reflected in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income as a reduction in revenue, with a corresponding valuation allowance, offsetting the investment in receivable portfolios in the consolidated statements of financial condition.
	The Company utilizes its proprietary forecasting models to continuously evaluate the economic life of each pool. The collection forecast of each pool is generally estimated to be between 84 to 96 months based on the expected collection period of each pool (up to 120 months for Cabot’s semi-performing pools). The Company often experiences collections beyond the 84 to 96 month collection forecast. As of September 30, 2013, the total estimated remaining collections beyond the 84 to 96 month collection forecast, which are not included in the calculation of the Company’s IRRs, were $142.6 million. The collection forecast estimates for Cabot include a 120 month collection period which is included in its estimated remaining collections and is used for calculating its IRRs.
	The Company accounts for each static pool as a unit for the economic life of the pool (similar to one loan) for recognition of revenue from receivable portfolios, for collections applied to the cost basis of receivable portfolios, and for provision for loss or allowance. Revenue from receivable portfolios is accrued based on each pool’s IRR applied to each pool’s adjusted cost basis. The cost basis of each pool is increased by revenue earned and decreased by gross collections and portfolio allowances.
	If the amount and timing of future cash collections on a pool of receivables are not reasonably estimable, the Company accounts for such portfolios on the cost recovery method as Cost Recovery Portfolios. The accounts in these portfolios have different risk characteristics than those included in other portfolios acquired during the same quarter, or the necessary information was not available to estimate future cash flows and, accordingly, they were not aggregated with other portfolios. Under the cost recovery method of accounting, no income is recognized until the purchase price of a Cost Recovery Portfolio has been fully recovered.
	Accretable yield represents the amount of revenue the Company expects to generate over the remaining life of its existing investment in receivable portfolios based on estimated future cash flows. Total accretable yield is the difference between future estimated collections and the current carrying value of a portfolio. All estimated cash flows on portfolios where the cost basis has been fully recovered are classified as zero basis cash flows.
	The following table summarizes the Company’s accretable yield and an estimate of zero basis future cash flows at the beginning and end of the period presented (in thousands):
			Accretable			Estimate of			Total
			Yield			Zero Basis
						Cash Flows
	Balance at December 31, 2012		$	984,944		$	17,366		$	1,002,310
	Revenue recognized, net			(135,072	)		(5,611	)		(140,683	)
	Net additions to existing portfolios(1)			173,634			7,061			180,695
	Additions for current purchases(1)			66,808			—			66,808
	Balance at March 31, 2013		$	1,090,314		$	18,816		$	1,109,130
	Revenue recognized, net			(144,186	)		(7,838	)		(152,024	)
	Net additions to existing portfolios(1)			30,458			10,784			41,242
	Additions for current purchases(1), (2)			645,865			—			645,865
	Balance at June 30, 2013		$	1,622,451		$	21,762		$	1,644,213
	Revenue recognized, net			(218,182	)		(7,205	)		(225,387	)
	Net additions to existing portfolios(1)			29,101			3,048			32,149
	Additions for current purchases(1), (2)			975,380			—			975,380
	Balance at September 30, 2013		$	2,408,750		$	17,605		$	2,426,355
			Accretable			Estimate of			Total
			Yield			Zero Basis
						Cash Flows
	Balance at December 31, 2011		$	821,527		$	32,676		$	854,203
	Revenue recognized, net			(119,340	)		(7,065	)		(126,405	)
	Net additions to existing portfolios(1)			131,039			3,608			134,647
	Additions for current purchases(1)			119,533			—			119,533
	Balance at March 31, 2012		$	952,759		$	29,219		$	981,978
	Revenue recognized, net			(131,624	)		(7,107	)		(138,731	)
	Net additions to existing portfolios(1)			77,473			13,738			91,211
	Additions for current purchases(1)			178,332			—			178,332
	Balance at June 30, 2012		$	1,076,940		$	35,850		$	1,112,790
	Revenue recognized, net			(134,295	)		(6,387	)		(140,682	)
	Net additions to existing portfolios(1)			71,730			(2,041	)		69,689
	Additions for current purchases(1)			36,387			—			36,387
	Balance at September 30, 2012		$	1,050,762		$	27,422		$	1,078,184
	(1)	Estimated remaining collections and accretable yield include anticipated collections beyond the 84 to 96 month collection forecast for United States portfolios.
	(2)	Includes $381.2 million of portfolios acquired in connection with the AACC Merger and $559.0 million of portfolios acquired in connection with the Cabot Acquisition discussed in Note 3, “Business Combinations.”
	During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the Company purchased receivable portfolios with a face value of $13.4 billion for $617.9 million, or a purchase cost of 4.6% of face value. Purchases of charged-off credit card, telecom and consumer bankruptcy portfolios include $559.0 million of portfolios acquired in conjunction with the Cabot Acquisition. The estimated future collections at acquisition for all portfolios purchased during the quarter amounted to $1.5 billion.
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company purchased receivable portfolios with a face value of $83.9 billion for $1.1 billion, or a purchase cost of 1.3% of face value. Purchases of charged-off credit card, telecom and consumer bankruptcy portfolios include $559.0 million of portfolios acquired in conjunction with the Cabot Acquisition and $381.2 million acquired in conjunction with the AACC Merger. The lower purchase rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is due to the portfolio acquired in conjunction with the AACC Merger, which included all portfolios owned, including accounts that have no value and which the Company has no intention to collect. No-value accounts would typically not be included in a portfolio purchase transaction, as the sellers would remove them from the sale file. The estimated future collections at acquisition for all portfolios purchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, amounted to $2.6 billion.
	During the three months ended September 30, 2012, the Company purchased receivable portfolios with a face value of $1.1 billion for $47.3 million, or a purchase cost of 4.5% of face value. The estimated future collections at acquisition for these portfolios amounted to $80.4 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company purchased receivable portfolios with a face value of $10.0 billion for $408.8 million, or a purchase cost of 4.1% of face value. The estimated future collections at acquisition for these portfolios amounted to $717.3 million.
	All collections realized after the net book value of a portfolio has been fully recovered (“Zero Basis Portfolios”) are recorded as revenue (“Zero Basis Revenue”). During the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, Zero Basis Revenue was approximately $4.2 million and $5.5 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, Zero Basis Revenue was approximately $13.6 million and $17.6 million, respectively.
	The following tables summarize the changes in the balance of the investment in receivable portfolios during the following periods (in thousands, except percentages):
			Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
			Accrual Basis			Cost Recovery			Zero Basis			Total
			Portfolios			Portfolios			Portfolios
	Balance, beginning of period		$	1,090,922		$	5,776		$	—		$	1,096,698
	Purchases of receivable portfolios(1)			616,779			1,073			—			617,852
	Gross collections(2)			(371,482	)		(983	)		(7,205	)		(379,670	)
	Put-backs and recalls			(755	)		(242	)		—			(997	)
	Foreign currency adjustments			36,372			—			—			36,372
	Revenue recognized			218,182			—			4,227			222,409
	Portfolio allowances reversals, net			—			—			2,978			2,978
	Balance, end of period		$	1,590,018		$	5,624		$	—		$	1,595,642
	Revenue as a percentage of collections(3)			58.7	%		0	%		58.7	%		58.6	%
			Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
			Accrual Basis			Cost Recovery			Zero Basis			Total
			Portfolios			Portfolios			Portfolios
	Balance, beginning of period		$	869,859		$	—		$	—		$	869,859
Purchases of receivable portfolios			47,311			—			—			47,311
Gross collections(2)			(239,577	)		—			(6,388	)		(245,965	)
Put-backs and recalls			(267	)		—			—			(267	)
Revenue recognized			134,496			—			5,469			139,965
(Portfolio allowances) portfolio allowance reversals, net			(202	)		—			919			717
Balance, end of period		$	811,620		$	—		$	—		$	811,620
Revenue as a percentage of collections(3)			56.1	%		0	%		85.6	%		56.9	%
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Accrual Basis			Cost Recovery			Zero Basis			Total
		Portfolios			Portfolios			Portfolios
Balance, beginning of period		$	873,119		$	—		$	—		$	873,119
Purchases of receivable portfolios(1)			1,098,663			1,073			—			1,099,736
Transfer of portfolios			(6,649	)		6,649			—			—
Gross collections(2)			(905,751	)		(1,825	)		(20,652	)		(928,228	)
Put-backs and recalls			(2,512	)		(273	)		(2	)		(2,787	)
Foreign currency adjustments			35,708			—			—			35,708
Revenue recognized			496,804			—			13,632			510,436
Portfolio allowances reversals, net			636			—			7,022			7,658
Balance, end of period		$	1,590,018		$	5,624		$	—		$	1,595,642
Revenue as a percentage of collections(3)			54.8	%		0	%		66	%		55	%
		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
		Accrual Basis			Cost Recovery			Zero Basis			Total
		Portfolios			Portfolios			Portfolios
Balance, beginning of period		$	716,454		$	—		$	—		$	716,454
Purchases of receivable portfolios			408,757			—			—			408,757
Gross collections(2)			(696,957	)		—			(20,560	)		(717,517	)
Put-backs and recalls			(1,892	)		—			—			(1,892	)
Revenue recognized			386,685			—			17,627			404,312
(Portfolio allowances) portfolio allowance reversals, net			(1,427	)		—			2,933			1,506
Balance, end of period		$	811,620		$	—		$	—		$	811,620
Revenue as a percentage of collections(3)			55.5	%		0	%		85.7	%		56.3	%
(1)	Purchases of portfolio receivables include $381.2 million acquired in connection with the AACC Merger in June 2013 and $559.0 million acquired in connection with the Cabot Acquisition in July 2013 discussed in Note 3, “Business Combinations.”
(2)	Does not include amounts collected on behalf of others.
(3)	Revenue as a percentage of collections excludes the effects of net portfolio allowances or net portfolio allowance reversals.
The following table summarizes the change in the valuation allowance for investment in receivable portfolios during the periods presented (in thousands):
		Valuation Allowance
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
Balance at beginning of period		$	100,593		$	108,705		$	105,273		$	109,494
Provision for portfolio allowances			—			1,616			479			5,491
Reversal of prior allowances			(2,978	)		(2,333	)		(8,137	)		(6,997	)
Balance at end of period		$	97,615		$	107,988		$	97,615		$	107,988
The Company currently utilizes various business channels for the collection of its receivables. The following table summarizes the total collections by collection channel and geographic area (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
United States:
Legal collections		$	153,556		$	111,334		$	409,511		$	335,782
Collection sites			119,080			116,928			362,495			338,439
Collection agencies (1)			39,607			17,715			88,795			43,344
Subtotal			312,243			245,977			860,801			717,565
United Kingdom:
Collection sites			37,931			—			37,931			—
Collection agencies			29,496			—			29,496			—
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
Subtotal			67,427			—			67,427			—
Total collections		$	379,670		$	245,977		$	928,228		$	717,565
(1)	Collections through our collection agency channel in the United States include accounts subject to bankruptcy filings collected by others. Additionally, collection agency collections often include accounts purchased from a competitor where we maintain the collection agency servicing until the accounts can be recalled and placed in our collection channels.

Receivables_Secured_by_Propert

Receivables Secured by Property Tax Liens, Net	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Receivables Secured by Property Tax Liens, Net	'
	Note 8: Receivables Secured by Property Tax Liens, Net
	The Company’s receivables secured by property tax liens include TLTs and TLCs. Repayment of the tax liens is generally dependent on the property owner but can also come through payments from other lien holders or foreclosure on the properties. The Company evaluates the entire portfolio of tax liens for impairment. The primary factor the Company uses to evaluate each receivable is the lien to value ratio, which is typically less than 15% and rarely exceeds 25%. The Company has not experienced any losses on receivables secured by property tax liens in its portfolio. In addition, management believes, based on the fact that the tax liens that collateralize the TLTs and TLCs are in a priority position over most other liens on the properties, that it will not experience any material losses on the ultimate collection of these receivables. Therefore, no allowance has been provided for as of September 30, 2013.
	The following table presents the Company’s aging analysis of receivables secured by tax liens as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Current	$	113,985	$	101,052
	31-60 days past due		12,500		10,175
	61-90 days past due		4,269		1,982
	> 90 days past due		24,530		21,891
	Tax lien transfer		155,284		135,100
	Tax lien certificates		30,906		—
		$	186,190	$	135,100

Deferred_Court_Costs_Net

Deferred Court Costs, Net	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Deferred Court Costs, Net	'
	Note 9: Deferred Court Costs, Net
	Within the United States, the Company contracts with a nationwide network of attorneys that specialize in collection matters. The Company generally refers charged-off accounts to its contracted attorneys when it believes the related consumer has sufficient assets to repay the indebtedness and has, to date, been unwilling to pay. In connection with the Company’s agreement with the contracted attorneys, it advances certain out-of-pocket court costs (“Deferred Court Costs”). The Company capitalizes Deferred Court Costs in its consolidated financial statements and provides a reserve for those costs that it believes will ultimately be uncollectible. The Company determines the reserve based on its analysis of court costs that have been advanced and those that have been recovered. Historically, the Company wrote off Deferred Court Costs not recovered within three years of placement. However, as a result of a history of court cost recoveries beyond three years, the Company has determined that court costs are recovered over a longer period of time. As a result, in January 2013, on a prospective basis, the Company began increasing its deferral period from three years to five years. Collections received from these debtors are first applied against related court costs with the balance applied to the debtors’ account.
	Deferred Court Costs consist of the following as of the dates presented (in thousands):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Court costs advanced	$	365,714		$	279,314
	Court costs recovered		(132,750	)		(94,827	)
	Court costs reserve		(193,960	)		(149,080	)
		$	39,004		$	35,407
	A roll forward of the Company’s court cost reserve is as follows (in thousands):
		Court Cost Reserve
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Balance at beginning of period	$	(176,094	)	$	(132,780	)	$	(149,080	)	$	(130,454	)
	Provision for court costs		(17,866	)		(13,378	)		(44,880	)		(37,536	)
	Write-off of reserve after the deferral period		—			5,651			—			27,483
	Balance at end of period	$	(193,960	)	$	(140,507	)	$	(193,960	)	$	(140,507	)

Other_Assets

Other Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Deferred Costs Capitalized Prepaid And Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Other Assets	'
	Note 10: Other Assets
	Other assets consist of the following (in thousands):
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Debt issuance costs, net of amortization	$	29,275	$	14,397
	Prepaid income taxes		24,975		—
	Deferred tax assets		13,229		—
	Service fee receivable		12,662		—
	Prepaid expenses		12,710		6,399
	Identifiable intangible assets, net		10,481		487
	Interest receivable		6,851		4,042
	Security deposit—India building leases		2,405		1,696
	Recoverable legal fees		2,573		1,521
	Other		5,280		2,993
		$	120,441	$	31,535

Debt

Debt	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Debt	'
	Note 11: Debt
	The Company is in compliance with all covenants under its financing arrangements. The components of the Company’s consolidated debt and capital lease obligations are as follows (in thousands):
			September 30,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Encore revolving credit facility		$	343,000		$	258,000
	Encore term loan facility			166,813			148,125
	Encore senior secured notes			62,500			72,500
	Encore convertible notes			287,500			115,000
	Less: Debt discount			(43,846	)		(14,442	)
	Propel TLT facility			131,292			117,601
	Propel TLC facility			26,977			—
	Cabot senior secured notes			591,081			—
	Add: Debt premium			44,164			—
	Preferred equity certificates			190,279			—
	Capital lease obligations			6,920			9,252
			$	1,806,680		$	706,036
	Encore Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan Facility
	Encore’s Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Restated Credit Agreement”) includes a term loan facility tranche of $150.0 million, a six-month term loan facility tranche of $48.6 million, a revolving credit facility tranche of $613.9 million and an accordion feature that would allow the Company to increase the revolving credit facility by an additional $162.5 million. Including the accordion feature, the maximum amount that can be borrowed under the Restated Credit Agreement is $975.0 million. The term loan facility and the revolving credit facility have five-year maturities expiring in November 2017, except with respect to a $50.0 million subtranche of the term loan facility, which has a three-year maturity, expiring in November 2015. The $48.6 million six-month term loan facility tranche matures in November 2013. The Restated Credit Agreement includes several financial institutions and lenders and is led by an administrative agent.
	The Restated Credit Agreement includes a basket to allow for investments in unrestricted subsidiaries and a subordinated debt basket of $300.0 million, among other things.
	Provisions of the Restated Credit Agreement include, but are not limited to:
		•		A revolving loan of $613.9 million, interest at a floating rate equal to, at the Company’s option, either: (1) reserve adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), plus a spread that ranges from, depending on the Company’s cash flow leverage ratio, 250 to 300 basis points; or (2) Alternate Base Rate, plus a spread that ranges from, depending on the Company’s cash flow leverage ratio, 150 to 200 basis points. “Alternate Base Rate,” as defined in the agreement, means the highest of (i) the per annum rate which the administrative agent publicly announces from time to time as its prime lending rate, as in effect from time to time, (ii) the federal funds effective rate from time to time, plus 0.5% and (iii) reserved adjusted LIBOR determined on a daily basis for a one month interest period, plus 1.0%;
		•		A $100.0 million five-year term loan, interest at a floating rate equal to, at the Company’s option, either: (1) reserve adjusted LIBOR, plus a spread that ranges from 250 to 300 basis points, depending on the Company’s cash flow leverage ratio; or (2) Alternate Base Rate, plus a spread that ranges from 150 to 200 basis points, depending on the Company’s cash flow leverage ratio. Principal amortizes $1.3 million in 2012, $5.0 million in 2013, $5.6 million in 2014, $8.1 million in 2015, $10.0 million in 2016, and $5.0 million in 2017 with the remaining principal due at the end of the term;
		•		A $50.0 million three-year term loan, interest at a floating rate equal to, at the Company’s option, either: (1) reserve adjusted LIBOR, plus a spread that ranges from 200 to 250 basis points, depending on the Company’s cash flow leverage ratio; or (2) Alternate Base Rate, plus a spread that ranges from 100 to 150 basis points, depending on the Company’s cash flow leverage ratio. Principal amortizes $0.6 million in 2012, $2.5 million in 2013, $2.8 million in 2014, $2.8 million in 2015 with the remaining principal due at the end of the term;
		•		A $48.6 million six-month term loan, interest at a floating rate equal to, at the Company’s option, either: (1) reserve adjusted LIBOR, plus a spread that ranges from 250 to 300 basis points, depending on the Company’s cash flow leverage ratio; or (2) Alternate Base Rate, plus a spread that ranges from 150 to 200 basis points, depending on the Company’s cash flow leverage ratio. Principal amortizes in six equal monthly installments;
		•		A borrowing base equal to (1) the lesser of (i) (a) 55% of eligible estimated remaining collections for consumer receivables subject to bankruptcy proceedings, provided that the amount described in this clause (i)(a) may not exceed 35% of the amount described in clauses (i)(a) and (i)(b), plus (b) 30%—35% (depending on the Company’s trailing 12-month cost per dollar collected) of all other eligible estimated remaining collections, initially set at 33%, and (ii) the product of the net book value of all receivable portfolios acquired on or after January 1, 2005 multiplied by 95%, minus (2) (x) the aggregate principal amount outstanding of the Senior Secured Notes (as defined below) plus (y) the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the term loans;
		•		The allowance of additional unsecured indebtedness not to exceed $300.0 million;
		•		Restrictions and covenants, which limit the payment of dividends and the incurrence of additional indebtedness and liens, among other limitations;
		•		Repurchases of up to $50.0 million of Encore’s common stock, subject to compliance with certain covenants and available borrowing capacity. The Company has repurchased approximately $50.0 million common stock during the fourth quarter of 2012 and in January 2013;
		•		A change of control definition, which excludes acquisitions of stock by Red Mountain Capital Partners LLC, JCF FPK LLP and their respective affiliates of up to 50% of the outstanding shares of Encore’s voting stock;
		•		Events of default which, upon occurrence, may permit the lenders to terminate the facility and declare all amounts outstanding to be immediately due and payable;
		•		An acquisition limit of $100.0 million; and
		•		Collateralization by all assets of the Company, other than the assets of the Propel entities or any foreign or unrestricted subsidiaries.
	At September 30, 2013, the outstanding balance under the Restated Credit Agreement was $509.8 million, which bore a weighted average interest rate of 3.07% and 4.16% for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and a weighted average interest rate of 3.13% and 4.13% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Encore Senior Secured Notes
	In 2010 and 2011, Encore entered into an aggregate of $75.0 million in senior secured notes with certain affiliates of Prudential Capital Group (the “Senior Secured Notes”). $25.0 million of the Senior Secured Notes bear an annual interest rate of 7.375%, mature in 2018 and require quarterly principal amortization payments of $1.25 million. Prior to May 2013, these notes required quarterly payments of interest only. Prior to May 2013, these notes required quarterly interest payments only. The remaining $50.0 million of Senior Secured Notes bear an annual interest rate of 7.75%, mature in 2017 and require quarterly principal amortization payments of $2.5 million. Prior to December 2012, these notes required quarterly interest payments only. As of September 30, 2013, $62.5 million is outstanding under these obligations.
	The Senior Secured Notes are guaranteed in full by certain of Encore’s subsidiaries. Similar to, and pari passu with, Encore’s credit facility, the Senior Secured Notes are also collateralized by all assets of the Company other than the assets of the Propel entities and any foreign and unrestricted subsidiaries including Janus Holdings. The Senior Secured Notes may be accelerated and become automatically and immediately due and payable upon certain events of default, including certain events related to insolvency, bankruptcy, or liquidation. Additionally, the Senior Secured Notes may be accelerated at the election of the holder or holders of a majority in principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes upon certain events of default by Encore, including the breach of affirmative covenants regarding guarantors, collateral, most favored lender treatment, minimum revolving credit facility commitment or the breach of any negative covenant. If Encore prepays the Senior Secured Notes at any time for any reason, payment will be at the higher of par or the present value of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the portion being prepaid. The discount rate used to determine the present value is 50 basis points over the then current Treasury Rate corresponding to the remaining average life of the senior secured notes. The covenants are substantially similar to those in the Restated Credit Agreement. Prudential Capital Group and the administrative agent for the lenders of the Restated Credit Agreement have an intercreditor agreement related to their pro rata rights to the collateral, actionable default, powers and duties and remedies, among other topics. The terms of the Senior Secured Notes were amended and restated on May 9, 2013 in connection with the Restated Credit Agreement in order to properly align certain provisions between the two agreements.
	Encore Convertible Senior Notes
	2017 Convertible Senior Notes
	On November 27, 2012, Encore sold $100.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.0% convertible senior notes due November 27, 2017 in a private placement transaction. On December 6, 2012, the initial purchasers exercised, in full, their option to purchase an additional $15.0 million of the convertible senior notes, which resulted in an aggregate principal amount of $115.0 million of the convertible senior notes outstanding (collectively, the “2017 Convertible Notes”). Interest on the 2017 Convertible Notes is payable semi-annually, in arrears, on May 27 and November 27 of each year, beginning on May 27, 2013. The 2017 Convertible Notes are the Company’s general unsecured obligations. The 2017 Convertible Notes will be convertible into cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the 2017 Convertible Notes to be converted and the Company will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, at the Company’s election, in respect of the remainder, if any, of the Company’s conversion obligation in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the 2017 Convertible Notes being converted. The 2017 Convertible Notes will be convertible at an initial conversion rate of 31.6832 shares of the Company’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 2017 Convertible Notes, subject to adjustment upon certain events, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $31.56 per share of the Company’s common stock. As of September 30, 2013, none of the conditions allowing holders of the 2017 Convertible Notes to convert their notes had occurred.
	In accordance with authoritative guidance related to derivatives and hedging and earnings per share calculation, only the conversion spread of the 2017 Convertible Notes is included in the diluted earnings per share calculation, if dilutive. Under such method, the settlement of the conversion spread has a dilutive effect when the average share price of the Company’s common stock during any quarter exceeds $31.56. The average share price of the Company’s common stock for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 exceeded $31.56. The dilutive effect from the 2017 Convertible Notes was approximately 0.8 million and 0.3 million shares for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. See Note 4, “Earnings per Share” for additional information.
	Concurrent with the pricing of the 2017 Convertible Notes, the Company entered into privately negotiated convertible note hedge transactions (together, the “Convertible Note Hedge Transactions”) with certain counterparties. The Convertible Note Hedge Transactions collectively cover, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, the number of shares of the Company’s common stock underlying the 2017 Convertible Notes, as described below. Concurrently with entering into the Convertible Note Hedge Transactions, the Company also entered into separate, privately negotiated warrant transactions (together, the “Warrant Transactions”) with the same counterparties, whereby the Company sold to the counterparties warrants to purchase, collectively, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, up to the same number of shares of the Company’s common stock as in the Convertible Note Hedge Transactions. Subject to certain conditions, the Company may settle the warrants in cash or on a net-share basis.
	The Convertible Note Hedge Transactions are expected generally to reduce the potential dilution and/or offset the potential cash payments the Company is required to make in excess of the principal amount upon conversion of the 2017 Convertible Notes in the event that the market price per share of the Company’s common stock, is greater than the strike price of the Convertible Note Hedge Transactions, which initially corresponds to the conversion price of the 2017 Convertible Notes and is subject to anti-dilution adjustments. If, however, the market price per share of the Company’s common stock, as measured under the terms of the Warrant Transactions, exceeds the strike price of the warrants, there would nevertheless be dilution to the extent that such market price exceeds the strike price of the warrants, unless the Company elects, subject to certain conditions, to settle the Warrant Transactions in cash. The strike price of the Warrant Transactions will initially be $44.1875 per share of the Company’s common stock and is subject to certain adjustments under the terms of the Warrant Transactions. Taken together, the Convertible Note Hedge Transactions and the Warrant Transactions have the effect of increasing the effective conversion price of the 2017 Convertible Notes to $44.1875 per share. The average share price of the Company’s common stock for the three months ended September 30, 2013 did not exceed $44.1875.
	The Convertible Note Hedge Transactions and the Warrant Transactions are separate transactions, in each case, entered into by the Company with certain counterparties, and are not part of the terms of the 2017 Convertible Notes and will not affect any holder’s rights under the 2017 Convertible Notes. Holders of the 2017 Convertible Notes will not have any rights with respect to the Convertible Note Hedge Transactions or the Warrant Transactions. In accordance with authoritative guidance, the Company recorded the net cost of the Convertible Note Hedge Transactions and the Warrant Transactions as a reduction in additional paid in capital, and will not recognize subsequent changes in fair value of these financial instruments in its consolidated financial statements.
	2020 Convertible Senior Notes
	On June 24, 2013, Encore sold $150.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.0% convertible senior notes due July 1, 2020 in a private placement transaction. On July 18, 2013, the initial purchasers exercised, in full, their option to purchase an additional $22.5 million of the convertible senior notes, which resulted in an aggregate principal amount of $172.5 million of the convertible senior notes outstanding (collectively, the “2020 Convertible Notes”). The 2020 Convertible Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company. Interest on the 2020 Convertible Notes is payable semi-annually, in arrears, on January 1 and July 1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 2014. Prior to January 1, 2020, the 2020 Convertible Notes will be convertible only during specified periods, if certain conditions are met. On or after January 1, 2020, the 2020 Convertible Notes will be convertible regardless of these conditions. Upon conversion, holders will receive cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, at the Company’s election. The conversion rate for the 2020 Convertible Notes is 21.8718 shares per $1,000 principal amount, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $45.72 per share of common stock. As of September 30, 2013, none of the conditions allowing holders of the 2020 Convertible Notes to convert their notes had occurred.
	As noted above, upon conversion, holders of the Company’s 2020 Convertible Notes will receive cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, at the Company’s election. However, the Company’s current intent is to settle conversions through combination settlement (i.e., convertible into cash up to the aggregate principal amount, and shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, at the Company’s election, for the remainder). As a result and in accordance with authoritative guidance related to derivatives and hedging and earnings per share, only the conversion spread is included in the diluted earnings per share calculation, if dilutive. Under such method, the settlement of the conversion spread has a dilutive effect when the average share price of the Company’s common stock during any quarter exceeds $45.72.
	In connection with the pricing of the 2020 Convertible Notes, the Company entered into privately negotiated capped call transactions (the “Capped Call Transactions”) with one or more of the initial purchasers (or their affiliates) and one or more other financial institutions (the “Option Counterparties”). The Capped Call Transactions cover, collectively, the number of shares of the Company’s common stock underlying the 2020 Convertible Notes, subject to anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those applicable to the 2020 Convertible Notes. The cost of the Capped Call Transactions was approximately $18.1 million. In accordance with authoritative guidance, the Company recorded the net cost of the Capped Call Transactions as a reduction in additional paid in capital, and will not recognize subsequent changes in fair value of these financial instruments in its consolidated financial statements.
	The Capped Call Transactions are expected generally to reduce the potential dilution and/or offset the cash payments the Company is required to make in excess of the principal amount upon conversion of the 2020 Convertible Notes in the event that the market price of the Company’s common stock is greater than the strike price of the Capped Call Transactions (which initially corresponds to the initial conversion price of the 2020 Convertible Notes and is subject to certain adjustments under the terms of the Capped Call Transactions), with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap based on the cap price of the Capped Call Transactions. The cap price of the Capped Call Transactions is $61.5475 per share, and is subject to certain adjustments under the terms of the Capped Call Transactions.
	The Capped Call Transactions are separate transactions, in each case, entered into by the Company with the Option Counterparties, and are not part of the terms of the 2020 Convertible Notes and will not affect any holder’s rights under the 2020 Convertible Notes. Holders of the 2020 Convertible Notes do not have any rights with respect to the Capped Call Transactions.
	The net proceeds from the sale of the 2020 Convertible Notes were approximately $167.4 million, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses paid by the Company. The Company used approximately $18.1 million of the net proceeds from this offering to pay the cost of the Capped Call Transactions and used the remainder of the net proceeds from this offering to pay a portion of the purchase price for the Cabot Acquisition and for general corporate purposes.
	The Company determined that the fair value of the 2020 Convertible Notes at the date of issuance was approximately $140.2 million, and designated the residual value of approximately $32.3 million as the equity component. Additionally, the Company allocated approximately $4.9 million of the $6.0 million original 2020 Convertible Notes issuance cost as debt issuance costs and the remaining $1.1 million as equity issuance costs.
	Authoritative guidance related to debt with conversion and other options requires that, for convertible debt instruments that may be settled fully or partially in cash upon conversion, issuers must separately account for the liability and equity components in a manner that will reflect the entity’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate when interest cost is recognized in subsequent periods. Additionally, debt issuance costs are required to be allocated in proportion to the allocation of the liability and equity components and accounted for as debt issuance costs and equity issuance costs, respectively.
	The balances of the liability and equity components of all of the convertible notes outstanding were as follows (in thousands):
			September 30,			December 31,
			2013			2012
	Liability component—principal amount		$	287,500		$	115,000
	Unamortized debt discount			(43,846	)		(14,442	)
	Liability component—net carrying amount		$	243,654		$	100,558
	Equity component		$	46,954		$	14,702
	The debt discount is being amortized into interest expense over the remaining life of the convertible notes using the effective interest rates, which are 6.0 % and 6.35% for the 2017 and 2020 Convertible Notes, respectively.
	Interest expense related to the convertible notes was as follows (in thousands):
			Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
			September 30, 2013			September 30, 2013
Interest expense – stated coupon rate		$	2,141		$	3,947
Interest expense – amortization of debt discount			1,570			2,887
Total interest expense – convertible notes		$	3,711		$	6,834
Propel Tax Lien Transfer Facility
Propel has a $160.0 million syndicated loan facility (the “Propel TLT Facility”).
The Propel TLT Facility has a three-year term and includes the following key provisions:
	•		Interest at Propel’s option, at either: (1) LIBOR, plus a spread that ranges from 300 to 375 basis points, depending on Propel’s cash flow leverage ratio; or (2) Prime Rate, which is defined in the agreement as the rate of interest per annum equal to the sum of (a) the interest rate quoted in the “Money Rates” section of The Wall Street Journal from time to time and designated as the “Prime Rate” plus (b) the Prime Rate Margin, which is a spread that ranges from 0 to 75 basis points, depending on Propel’s cash flow leverage ratio;
	•		A borrowing base of 90% of the face value of the tax lien collateralized payment arrangements;
	•		Interest payable monthly; principal and interest due at maturity;
	•		Restrictions and covenants, which limit, among other things, the payment of dividends and the incurrence of additional indebtedness and liens;
	•		Events of default which, upon occurrence, may permit the lender to terminate the Propel TLT Facility and declare all amounts outstanding to be immediately due and payable; and
	•		A $40.0 million accordion feature.
The Propel TLT Facility is primarily collateralized by the TLT tax liens and requires Propel to maintain various financial covenants, including a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum cash flow leverage ratio.
At September 30, 2013, the outstanding balance on the Propel TLT Facility was $131.3 million, which bore a weighted average interest rate of 3.64% and 3.54% for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and a weighted average interest rate of 3.52% and 3.56% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Propel Tax Lien Certificate Facility
On May 9, 2013, the Company, through subsidiaries of Propel, entered into a $100.0 million revolving credit facility (the “Propel TLC Facility”). The Propel TLC Facility is used to purchase TLCs from taxing authorities.
The Propel TLC Facility has a four-year term and includes the following key provisions:
	•		During the first two years of the four-year term, the committed amount can be drawn on a revolving basis. During the following two years, no additional draws are permitted, and all proceeds from the TLCs are used to repay any amounts outstanding under the facility. After the four-year period ends, if any amounts are still outstanding, an alternate interest rate applies until all amounts owed are repaid;
	•		Prior to the expiration of the four-year term, interest at a per annum floating rate equal to LIBOR plus a spread of 325 basis points;
	•		Following the expiration of the four-year term or upon the occurrence of an event of default, interest at 400 basis points plus the greater of (i) a per annum floating rate equal to LIBOR plus a spread of 325 basis points, or (ii) Prime Rate, which is defined in the agreement as the rate most recently announced by the lender at its branch in San Francisco, California, from time to time as its prime commercial rate for United States dollar-denominated loans made in the United States;
	•		Proceeds from the TLCs are applied to pay interest, principal and other obligations incurred in connection with the Propel TLC Facility on a monthly basis as defined in the agreement;
	•		Special purpose entity covenants designed to protect the bankruptcy-remoteness of the borrowers and additional restrictions and covenants, which limit, among other things, the payment of certain dividends, the occurrence of additional indebtedness and liens and use of the collections proceeds from the TLCs; and
	•		Events of default which, upon occurrence, may permit the lender to terminate the Propel TLC Facility and declare all amounts outstanding to be immediately due and payable.
The Propel TLC Facility is collateralized by the TLCs acquired under the Propel TLC Facility. At September 30, 2013, the outstanding balance on the Propel TLC Facility was $27.0 million and, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, bore a weighted average interest rate of 5.34% and 5.11%, respectively.
Cabot Senior Secured Notes
On September 20, 2012, Cabot Financial (Luxembourg) S.A. (“Cabot Financial”), an indirect subsidiary of Janus Holdings, issued £265.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 10.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2019 (the “Cabot 2019 Notes”). Interest on the Cabot 2019 Notes is payable semi-annually, in arrears, on April 1 and October 1 of each year.
On August 2, 2013, Cabot Financial issued £100 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the “Cabot 2020 Notes” and, together with the Cabot 2019 Notes, the “Cabot Notes”). Interest on the Cabot 2020 Notes is payable semi-annually, in arrears, on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning on February 1, 2014. The total debt issuance cost associated with the Cabot 2020 Notes was approximately $4.9 million.
Of the proceeds from the issuance of the Cabot 2020 Notes, approximately £75 million was used to repay all amounts outstanding under the senior credit facilities of Cabot Financial (UK) Limited (“Cabot Financial UK”), an indirect subsidiary of Janus Holdings, £25 million was used to partially repay a portion of the J Bridge PECs (as anticipated in the Purchase Agreement discussed in Note 3, “Business Combinations”) to J.C. Flowers.
The Cabot Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the following indirect subsidiaries of the Company: Cabot, Cabot Financial Limited, and all material subsidiaries of Cabot Financial Limited (other than Cabot Financial). The Cabot Notes are secured by a first ranking security interest in all the outstanding shares of Cabot Financial and the guarantors (other than Cabot) and substantially all the assets of Cabot Financial and the guarantors (other than Cabot).
Interest expense related to the Cabot Notes was as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended
		September 30, 2013
Interest expense – stated coupon rate		$	12,857
Interest income – appreciation of debt premium			(1,367	)
Total interest expense – Cabot Notes		$	11,490
Cabot Senior Revolving Credit Facility
On September 20, 2012, Cabot Financial UK entered into an agreement for a senior committed revolving credit facility of £50.0 million (the “Cabot Credit Agreement”). This agreement was amended and restated on June 28, 2013 to increase the size of the revolving credit facility to £85.0 million (the “Cabot Credit Facility”).
The Cabot Credit Facility has a five-year term expiring in September 2017, and includes the following key provisions:
	•		Interest at LIBOR plus a maximum of 4.0% depending on the loan to value (“LTV”) ratio determined quarterly, calculated as being the ratio of the net financial indebtedness of Cabot (as defined in the Cabot Credit Agreement) to Cabot’s estimated remaining collections capped at 84-months;
	•		A restrictive covenant that limits the LTV ratio to 0.75;
	•		Additional restrictions and covenants which limit, among other things, the payment of dividends and the incurrence of additional indebtedness and liens; and
	•		Events of default which, upon occurrence, may permit the lenders to terminate the Cabot Credit Facility and declare all amounts outstanding to be immediately due and payable.
The Cabot Credit Facility is unconditionally guaranteed by the following indirect subsidiaries of the Company: Cabot, Cabot Financial Limited, and all material subsidiaries of Cabot Financial Limited. The Cabot Notes are secured by a first ranking security interest in all the outstanding shares of Cabot Financial UK and the guarantors (other than Cabot) and substantially all the assets of Cabot Financial UK and the guarantors (other than Cabot).
At September 30, 2013, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Cabot Credit Facility.
Preferred Equity Certificates
As discussed in Note 3, “Business Combinations,” on July 1, 2013, the Company, through Encore Europe, completed the Cabot Acquisition by acquiring E Bridge PECs, E PECs, and E Shares that represent 50.1% of all of the issued and outstanding equity and debt securities of Janus Holdings. The remaining 49.9% of Janus Holdings’ equity and debt securities constitute J Bridge PECs, J PECs, and J shares owned by J.C. Flowers. All of the PECs accrue interest at 12% per annum. In accordance with authoritative guidance related to debt and equity securities, the J Bridge PECs, J PECs and any accrued interests thereof are classified as liabilities and are included in debt in the Company’s accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. In addition, certain other minority owners hold PECs at the Cabot Holdings level (the “Management PECs”). These PECs are also included in debt in the Company’s accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. The E Bridge PECs and E PECs held by the Company, and their related interest eliminate in consolidation and therefore are not included in debt. As noted above, the J Bridge PECs, J PECs and Management PECs are included in debt in the Company’s accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. However, as these liabilities are held by the noncontrolling interest holders and do not require the payment of cash interest expense, they have characteristics similar to equity with a preferred return. The ultimate payment of the accumulated interest would be satisfied only in connection with the disposition of the noncontrolling interests of J.C. Flowers and management.
The Company determined, at the time of the Cabot Acquisition, that the fair value of the preferred equity certificates and the respective accrued interests approximated their face value.
As anticipated in the Purchase Agreement, and as discussed in Note 3, “Business Combinations,” in August 2013, Cabot made a payment of approximately $41.2 million to J.C. Flowers for a partial redemption of the J Bridge PECs.
As of September 30, 2013, the outstanding balance of the PECs and their accrued interests was $190.3 million.
Capital Lease Obligations
The Company has capital lease obligations primarily for computer equipment. As of September 30, 2013, the Company’s combined obligations for these equipment leases were approximately $6.9 million. These lease obligations require monthly or quarterly payments through May 2018 and have implicit interest rates that range from zero to approximately 7.7%.

Variable_Interest_Entity

Variable Interest Entity	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Variable Interest Entity	'
	Note 12: Variable Interest Entity
	On July 1, 2013, the Company, through Encore Europe, completed its acquisition of 50.1% of the equity interest in Janus Holdings. See Note 3, “Business Combinations” for more information. The Company has determined that Janus Holdings is a VIE, and the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. As a result, the financial results of Janus Holdings are consolidated under the VIE consolidation model. A VIE is defined as a legal entity whose equity owners do not have sufficient equity at risk, or, as a group, the holders of the equity investment at risk lack any of the following three characteristics: decision-making rights, the obligation to absorb losses, or the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity. The primary beneficiary is identified as the variable interest holder that has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affect the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb expected losses or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The key activities that affect Cabot’s economic performance include, but are not limited to, operational budgets and purchasing decisions. Through its control of the board of directors of Cabot’s immediate parent company, the Company controls the key operating activities at Cabot. The Company evaluates its relationships with the VIE on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to be the primary beneficiary.
	The Company considers that the rights granted to J.C. Flowers under the contractual arrangements are more protective in nature rather than participating rights.
	The Company does not intend to provide financial support to Janus Holdings.
	The Company’s consolidated assets as of September 30, 2013 included assets from Janus Holdings that can only be used to settle obligations of Janus Holdings. The Company’s consolidated liabilities as of September 30, 2013, included liabilities of Janus Holdings, whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. The following table presents Janus Holdings’ assets and liabilities (after elimination of intercompany transactions and balances) in the Company’s consolidated statement of financial position as of September 30, 2013 (in thousands):
		September 30,
		2013
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	54,584
	Investment in receivable portfolios, net		596,160
	Property and equipment, net		14,249
	Other assets		32,102
	Goodwill		369,912
	Total assets	$	1,067,007
	Liabilities
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	31,817
	Deferred tax liabilities, net		6,978
	Debt		825,524
	Other liabilities		113
	Total liabilities	$	864,432

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Note 13: Income Taxes
	During the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $10.3 million and $13.9 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $30.1 million and $38.4 million, respectively.
	The effective tax rates for the respective periods are shown below:
			Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2013			2012			2013			2012
	Federal provision			35	%		35	%		35	%		35	%
	State provision			5.2	%		6.5	%		5.2	%		6.5	%
	State benefit			(1.8	%)		(2.3	%)		(1.8	%)		(2.3	%)
	Changes in state apportionment(1)			(4.0	%)		(0.5	%)		(1.7	%)		0.7	%
	Tax reserves(2)			1.8	%		0	%		0.7	%		0	%
	International provision(3)			(4.8	%)		(0.5	%)		(2.0	%)		(0.6	%)
	Permanent items(4)			1.1	%		1.3	%		1.3	%		0.4	%
	Effective rate			32.5	%		39.5	%		36.7	%		39.7	%
	(1)	Represents changes in state apportionment methodologies.
	(2)	Represents reserves taken for certain tax position adopted by the Company.
	(3)	Relates primarily to the lower tax rate on the income attributable to Cabot.
	(4)	Represents a provision for nondeductible items.
	The Company’s subsidiary in Costa Rica is operating under a 100% tax holiday through December 31, 2018 and a 50% tax holiday for the subsequent four years. The impact of the tax holiday in Costa Rica for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 was immaterial.
	As of September 30, 2013, the Company had a gross unrecognized tax benefit of $17.6 million that, if recognized, would result in a net tax benefit of approximately $15.3 million and would have a positive effect on the Company’s effective tax rate. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, there was an increase in the gross unrecognized tax benefit of $2.2 million primarily as a result of the Cabot acquisition as discussed in Note 3, “Business Combinations.”
	During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company did not provide for United States income taxes or foreign withholding taxes on the quarterly undistributed earnings from continuing operations of its subsidiaries operating outside of the United States. Undistributed earnings of these subsidiaries during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, were approximately $1.5 million and $4.7 million, respectively. Such undistributed earnings are considered permanently reinvested.

Purchase_Concentrations

Purchase Concentrations	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Purchase Concentrations	'
	Note 14: Purchase Concentrations
	The following table summarizes purchases by seller sorted by total aggregate cost (in thousands, except percentages):
		Nine Months Ended
		30-Sep-13
		Cost		%
	Portfolios acquired in Cabot Acquisition	$	558,951		50.8	%
	Portfolios acquired in AACC Merger		381,233		34.7	%
	Seller 1		24,610		2.2	%
	Seller 2		24,067		2.2	%
	Seller 3		17,151		1.6	%
	Other sellers		93,724		8.5	%
	Total purchases	$	1,099,736		100	%

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	Note 15: Commitments and Contingencies
	Litigation
	The Company is involved in disputes and legal actions from time to time in the ordinary course of business. The Company, along with others in its industry, is routinely subject to legal actions in the United States based on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”), comparable state statutes, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”), state and federal unfair competition statutes, and common law causes of action. The violations of law alleged in these actions often include claims that the Company lacks specified licenses to conduct its business, attempts to collect debts on which the statute of limitations has run, has made inaccurate assertions of fact in support of its collection actions, and/or has acted improperly in connection with its efforts to contact consumers. These cases are frequently styled as supposed class actions.
	On March 8, 2013, March 19, 2013 and March 20, 2013, three actions entitled Shell v. Asset Acceptance Capital Corp., et. al., Neumann v. Asset Acceptance Capital Corp., et. al., and Jaluka v. Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. et. al., respectively, were filed in the Macomb County Circuit Court of the State of Michigan. On April 19, 2013, a fourth action entitled Dix v. Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. et al was filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. These actions were brought by purported stockholders of AACC, against the Company, AACC, and certain other named entities and individuals, and allege, among other things, that the Company has aided and abetted AACC’s directors in breaching their fiduciary duties of care, loyalty and candor or disclosure owed to AACC stockholders. Plaintiffs in the actions sought, among other things, injunctive relief prohibiting consummation of the proposed acquisition, or rescission of the proposed acquisition (in the event the transaction has already been consummated), as well as costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorneys’ and experts’ fees, and other equitable or injunctive relief as the court may deem just and proper. The plaintiffs did not specify the dollar amount of damages sought in each action. On June 2, 2013, AACC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (the “MOU”) with the plaintiffs in the Michigan actions and Delaware action that sets forth the parties’ agreement in principle for settlement. As explained in the MOU, without admitting any wrongdoing, AACC agreed to make certain additional disclosures related to the proposed merger, and to enter into a stipulation of settlement providing for the certification of a class, for settlement purposes only, that includes certain persons or entities who held shares of AACC common stock and the release of all asserted claims. On September 16, 2013, AACC entered into a stipulation of settlement which sets forth the terms of the MOU. On October 7, 2013, the Michigan court preliminarily approved the stipulation of settlement. Upon final approval by the Michigan court, which has yet to and may not occur, the attorneys for the class members intend to seek an award of attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in a total amount not to exceed $550,000, which the defendants have agreed to not oppose.
	Except as described above and in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013, there have been no material developments in any of the legal proceedings disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
	In certain legal proceedings, the Company may have recourse to insurance or third party contractual indemnities to cover all or portions of its litigation expenses, judgments, or settlements. In accordance with authoritative guidance, the Company records loss contingencies in its financial statements only for matters in which losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Where a range of loss can be reasonably estimated with no best estimate in the range, the Company records the minimum estimated liability. The Company continuously assesses the potential liability related to the Company’s pending litigation and revises its estimates when additional information becomes available. As of September 30, 2013, the Company has no material reserves for litigation. Additionally, based on the current status of litigation matters, either the estimate of exposure is immaterial to the Company’s financial statements or an estimate cannot yet be determined. The Company’s legal costs are recorded to expense as incurred.
	Purchase Commitments
	In the normal course of business, the Company enters into forward flow purchase agreements and other purchase commitment agreements. As of September 30, 2013, the Company has entered into agreements to purchase receivable portfolios with a face value of approximately $562.8 million for a purchase price of approximately $58.5 million. The Company has no purchase commitments beyond December 2014.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	Note 16: Segment Information
	The Company conducts business primarily through two reportable segments: portfolio purchasing and recovery and tax lien business. The Company’s management relies on internal management reporting processes that provide segment revenue, segment operating income, and segment asset information in order to make financial decisions and allocate resources. The operating results from the Company’s tax lien business segment are immaterial to the Company’s total consolidated operating results. However, total assets from the tax lien business segment are significant as compared to the Company’s total consolidated assets. As a result, in accordance with authoritative guidance on segment reporting, the Company’s tax lien business segment is determined to be a reportable segment.
	Segment operating income includes income from operations before depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, and stock-based compensation expense. The following table provides a reconciliation of revenue and segment operating income by reportable segment to consolidated results and was derived from the segments’ internal financial information as used for corporate management purposes (in thousands):
			Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2013			2012			2013			2012
	Revenues:
	Portfolio purchasing and recovery		$	230,885		$	140,682		$	523,659		$	405,818
	Tax lien business			4,673			4,536			12,606			7,056
			$	235,558		$	145,218		$	536,265		$	412,874
	Operating income:
	Portfolio purchasing and recovery		$	67,803		$	42,980		$	143,961		$	123,079
	Tax lien business			1,832			2,055			3,455			2,874
				69,635			45,035			147,416			125,953
	Depreciation and amortization			(4,523	)		(1,533	)		(8,527	)		(4,193	)
	Stock-based compensation			(3,983	)		(1,905	)		(9,163	)		(6,710	)
	Other expense			(29,485	)		(6,402	)		(47,784	)		(18,253	)
	Income from continuing operations before income taxes		$	31,644		$	35,195		$	81,942		$	96,797
	Additionally, assets are allocated to operating segments for management review. As of September 30, 2013, total segment assets were $2.3 billion and $237.3 million for the portfolio purchasing and recovery segment and tax lien business segment, respectively.
	The following presents information about geographic areas in which the Company operates (in thousands):
			Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2013			2012			2013			2012
	Revenues(1) :
	United States		$	189,086		$	145,218		$	489,793		$	412,874
	United Kingdom			46,472			—			46,472			—
			$	235,558		$	145,218		$	536,265		$	412,874
	(1)	Revenues are attributed to countries based on location of customer.

Goodwill_and_Identifiable_Inta

Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets	'
	Note 17: Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets
	In accordance with authoritative guidance, goodwill is tested at the reporting unit level annually for impairment and in interim periods if certain events occur that indicate the fair value of a reporting unit may be below its carrying value.
	As of September 30, 2013, the Company has two reporting units that carry goodwill: portfolio purchasing and recovery and tax lien business. Annual testing is performed as of October 1st for the portfolio purchasing and recovery reporting unit and as of April 1st for the tax lien business reporting unit.
	The Company’s acquired intangible assets are summarized as follows (in thousands):
			As of September 30, 2013								As of December 31, 2012
			Gross			Accumulated			Net		Gross		Accumulated			Net
			Carrying			Amortization			Carrying		Carrying		Amortization			Carrying
			Amount						Amount		Amount					Amount
	Intangible assets subject to amortization:
	Customer relationships		$	1,494		$	(42	)	$	1,452	$	570	$	(83	)	$	487
	Developed technologies			4,681			(234	)		4,447		—		—			—
	Trade name and other			2,876			(256	)		2,620		—		—			—
	Total intangible assets subject to amortization		$	9,051		$	(532	)	$	8,519	$	570	$	(83	)	$	487
	Intangible assets not subject to amortization:
	Goodwill – portfolio purchasing and recovery								$	444,130						$	6,047
	Goodwill – tax lien business									45,390							49,399
	Other intangibles									1,962							—
	Total intangible assets not subject to amortization								$	491,482						$	55,446
	The changes in carrying amount of goodwill by reporting unit for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 are as follows (in thousands):
			Portfolio Purchasing			Tax Lien business
			and Recovery
	Balance, December 31, 2012		$	6,047		$	49,399
	Goodwill acquired			419,969			—
	Goodwill adjustment			(180	)		(4,009	)(1)
	Effect of foreign currency translation			18,294			—
	Balance, September 30, 2013		$	444,130		$	45,390
	(1)	As a result of its final valuation study related to the Company’s acquisition of Propel, during the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company made an adjustment to the initial purchase price allocation, increasing receivables secured by tax liens and decreasing goodwill by approximately $4.0 million.

Ownership_Description_of_Busin1

Ownership, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Portfolio Purchasing and Recovery	'
	Portfolio Purchasing and Recovery
	United States. The Company purchases receivable portfolios based on robust, account-level valuation methods and employs a suite of proprietary statistical and behavioral models across the full extent of its operations. These investments allow the Company to value portfolios accurately (and limit the risk of overpaying), avoid buying portfolios that are incompatible with its methods or goals and precisely align the accounts it purchases with its operational channels to maximize future collections. As a result, the Company has been able to realize significant returns from the receivables it acquires. The Company maintains strong relationships with many of the largest credit and telecommunication providers, and possesses one of the industry’s best collection staff retention rates.
	The Company uses insights discovered during its purchasing process to build account collection strategies. The Company’s proprietary consumer-level collectability analysis is the primary determinant of whether an account will be actively serviced post-purchase. The Company continuously refines this analysis to determine the most effective collection strategy to pursue for each account it owns. After the Company’s preliminary analysis, it seeks to collect on only a fraction of the accounts it purchases, through one or more of its collection channels. The channel identification process is analogous to a funneling system, where the Company first differentiates those consumers who it believes are not able to pay from those who are able to pay. Consumers who the Company believes are financially incapable of making any payments, facing extenuating circumstances or hardships (such as medical issues), serving in the military, or currently receiving social security as their only source of income are excluded from the next step of its collection process and are designated as inactive. The remaining pool of accounts in the funnel then receives further evaluation. At that point, the Company analyzes and determines a consumer’s perceived willingness to pay. Based on that analysis, the Company will pursue collections through letters and/or phone calls to its consumers. Despite its efforts to reach consumers and work out a settlement option, only a small number of consumers who are contacted choose to engage with the Company. Those who do are often offered deep discounts on their obligations, or are presented with payment plans that are better suited to meet their daily cash flow needs. The majority of contacted consumers, however, ignore both the Company’s calls and letters, and therefore the Company must then make the difficult decision whether or not to pursue collections through legal means.
	The Company continually monitors applicable changes to laws governing statutes of limitations and disclosures to consumers. The Company maintains policies, system controls, and processes designed to ensure that accounts past the applicable statute of limitations do not get placed into legal collections. Additionally, in written and verbal communications with consumers, the Company provides disclosures to the consumer that the account is past its applicable statute of limitations and, therefore, the Company will not pursue collections through legal means.
	United Kingdom. Through Cabot, portfolio receivables are purchased using a proprietary pricing model. This model allows Cabot to value portfolios with a high degree of accuracy and quantify portfolio performance in order to maximize future collections. As a result, Cabot has been able to realize significant returns from the assets it has acquired. Cabot maintains strong relationships with many of the largest financial service providers in the United Kingdom.
	Cabot also uses insights discovered during its purchasing process to build account collection strategies. Cabot’s proprietary consumer-level collectability analysis is the primary determinant of how an account will be serviced post-purchase. Cabot continuously refines this analysis to determine the most effective collection strategy to pursue for each account it owns. In recent years, Cabot has concentrated on buying portfolios that are described as semi-performing in which over 50% of accounts have made a payment in three of the last four months immediately prior to the portfolio purchase. Cabot will try to establish contact with these consumers in order to transfer payment arrangements and gauge the willingness of these consumers to pay. Consumers who Cabot believes are financially incapable of making any payments, those having negative disposable income, or those experiencing hardships (such as medical issues or mental incapacity), are placed on hold and handled outside of normal collections routines.
	The remaining pool of accounts in the funnel then receives further evaluation. At that point, Cabot analyzes and determines a consumer’s perceived willingness to pay. Based on that analysis, Cabot pursues collections through letters and/or phone calls to its consumers. Where contact is made and consumers indicate a willingness to pay, a patient approach of forbearance is applied using regulatory protocols within the United Kingdom to assess affordability and ensure that plans are fair and balanced and therefore sustainable.
	Where consumers are not locatable or refuse to engage in a constructive dialogue, Cabot will pass these accounts through a litigation scorecard and rule set in order to assess suitability for legal action.
Tax Lien Business	'
	Tax Lien Business
	Propel’s principal activities are the acquisition and servicing of residential and commercial tax liens on real property. These liens take priority over most other liens. By funding tax liens, Propel provides state and local taxing authorities and governments with much needed tax revenue. To the extent permitted by local law, Propel works with property owners to structure affordable payment plans designed to allow them to keep their property while paying their property tax obligation over time. Propel maintains a foreclosure rate of less than one-half of one percent.
	Propel’s receivables secured by property tax liens include tax lien transfers (“TLTs”) and tax lien certificates (“TLCs”). With TLTs, property owners choose to have the taxing authority transfer their tax lien to Propel. Propel pays their tax lien obligation to the taxing authority and the property owner pays Propel over time at a lower interest rate than is being assessed by the taxing authority. TLTs provide property owners with repayment plans that are both affordable and flexible when compared with other payment options. Propel also purchases TLCs directly from taxing authorities, securing rights to future property tax payments, interest and penalties. In most cases, TLCs continue to be serviced by the taxing authority. When the taxing authority is paid, it repays the Company the outstanding balance of the lien plus interest, which is negotiated at the time of the purchase.
Financial Statement Preparation and Presentation	'
	Financial Statement Preparation and Presentation
	The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by Encore, without audit, in accordance with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and, therefore, do not include all information and footnotes necessary for a fair presentation of its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).
	In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial information for the interim periods presented reflects all adjustments, consisting of only normal and recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of operating results for an entire fiscal year.
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and the disclosure of contingent amounts in the Company’s financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
Basis of Consolidation	'
	Basis of Consolidation
	The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, and reflect the accounts and operations of the Company and those of its subsidiaries in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. The Company also consolidates Variable Interest Entities (“VIE”), for which it is the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary has both (a) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affect the entity’s economic performance, and (b) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits. The Company has determined that its less than wholly owned subsidiary Janus Holdings is a VIE, and the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. As a result, the financial results of Janus Holdings are consolidated under the VIE consolidation model. Refer to Note 12, “Variable Interest Entity,” for further details. The Company evaluates its relationships with the VIE on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to be the primary beneficiary. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Translation of Foreign Currencies	'
	Translation of Foreign Currencies
	The financial statements of Janus Holdings are measured using their local currency Great British Pounds as the functional currency. Janus Holdings assets and liabilities are translated as of the end of the balance sheet date and revenue and expenses are translated at an average rate over the period. Currency translation adjustments are recorded as a component of other comprehensive income. Transaction gains and losses are included in other (expense) income.
Reclassifications	'
	Reclassifications
	Certain immaterial amounts in the 2012 consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2013 presentation.

Discontinued_Operations_Tables

Discontinued Operations (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Discontinued Operations And Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'
Revenue and Loss from Discontinued Operations	'
	The following table presents the revenue and loss from discontinued operations (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
		September 30,					September 30,
		2013			2012		2013			2012
	Revenue	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	5,704
	Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes	$	(500	)	$	—	$	(500	)	$	(11,942	)
	Income tax benefit		192			—		192			4,678
	Loss from discontinued operations		(308	)		—		(308	)		(7,264	)
	Loss on sale of discontinued operations, before income taxes		—			—		—			(2,416	)
	Income tax benefit		—			—		—			586
	Loss on sale of discontinued operations		—			—		—			(1,830	)
	Total loss from discontinued operations	$	(308	)	$	—	$	(308	)	$	(9,094	)

Business_Combinations_Tables

Business Combinations (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Summary of Operating Performance	'
	The following table summarizes the operating performance of Janus Holdings and Encore Europe (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
		Janus Holdings			Encore Europe		Encore Europe
							Consolidated
	Total revenues	$	46,472		$	—	$	46,472
	Total operating expenses		(23,640	)		—		(23,640	)
	Income from operations		22,832			—		22,832
	Interest expense – non-PEC		(12,319	)		—		(12,319	)
	PEC interest (expense) income		(10,875	)		4,998		(5,877	)
	Other income		96			—		96
	(Loss) income before income taxes		(266	)		4,998		4,732
	Provision for income taxes		(1,174	)		—		(1,174	)
	Net (loss) income		(1,440	)		4,998		3,558
	Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		822			—		822
	Net (loss) income attributable to Encore	$	(618	)	$	4,998	$	4,380
Pro Forma Consolidated Results of Operations	'
	The following unaudited pro forma financial information does not necessarily reflect the actual results that would have occurred had Encore, Cabot, and AACC been combined during the periods presented, nor is it necessarily indicative of the future results of operations of the combined companies (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
		September 30,					September 30,
		2013			2012		2013			2012
	Consolidated pro forma revenue	$	235,558		$	236,693	$	712,237		$	693,718
	Consolidated pro forma income from continuing operations attributable to Encore		22,194			27,743		68,731			75,928
AACC Merger [Member]	'
Components of Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation for Acquisition/Merger	'
	The components of the preliminary purchase price allocation for the AACC Merger are as follows (in thousands):
	Purchase price:
	Cash paid at acquisition	$	316,485
	Stock consideration		62,352
	Total purchase price	$	378,837
	Allocation of purchase price:
	Cash	$	23,156
	Investment in receivable portfolios		381,233
	Deferred court costs		6,141
	Property and equipment		11,003
	Other assets		16,004
	Liabilities assumed		(128,341	)
	Identifiable intangible assets		1,470
	Goodwill		68,171
	Total net assets acquired	$	378,837
Cabot Acquisition [Member]	'
Components of Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation for Acquisition/Merger	'
	The components of the preliminary purchase price allocation for the Cabot Acquisition are as follows (in thousands):
	Purchase price:
	Cash paid at acquisition	$	177,246
	Allocation of purchase price:
	Cash	$	57,520
	Investment in receivable portfolios		558,951
	Property and equipment		13,672
	Other assets		20,772
	Preferred equity certificates assumed		(211,549	)
	Debt assumed		(559,907	)
	Other liabilities assumed		(44,727	)
	Redeemable noncontrolling interests		(12,064	)
	Noncontrolling interests		(4,051	)
	Identifiable intangible assets		7,011
	Goodwill		351,618
	Total net assets acquired	$	177,246

Earnings_per_Share_Tables

Earnings per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Reconciliation of Shares Used in Calculating Earnings Per Basic and Diluted Shares	'
	A reconciliation of shares used in calculating earnings per basic and diluted shares follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic		25,535		25,071		24,323		24,930
	Dilutive effect of stock-based awards		843		976		940		990
	Dilutive effect of convertible senior notes		805		—		298		—
	Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted		27,183		26,047		25,561		25,920

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Summary of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis	'
	Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below (in thousands):
		Fair Value Measurements as of
		30-Sep-13
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Assets
	Interest rate cap	$	—		$	206		$	—		$	206
	Liabilities
	Interest rate swap agreements	$	—		$	(139	)	$	—		$	(139	)
	Foreign currency exchange contracts		—			(5,567	)		—			(5,567	)
	Temporary Equity
	Redeemable noncontrolling interests	$	—		$	—		$	(12,231	)	$	(12,231	)
		Fair Value Measurements as of
		December 31, 2012
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	Liabilities
	Interest rate swap agreements	$	—		$	(645	)	$	—		$	(645	)
	Foreign currency exchange contracts		—			(2,010	)		—			(2,010	)
Change in Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests	'
	The components of the change in the redeemable noncontrolling interests for the periods ended September 30, 2013 are presented in the following table:
		September 30,
		2013
	Balance at beginning of period	$	—
	Initial redeemable noncontrolling interest related to business combination		12,064
	Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests		(615	)
	Effect of foreign currency translation attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests		782
	Balance at end of period	$	12,231

Derivatives_and_Hedging_Instru1

Derivatives and Hedging Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Summary of Fair Value of Derivative Instruments as Recorded in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition	'
	The following table summarizes the fair value of derivative instruments as recorded in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013						December 31, 2012
		Balance Sheet			Fair Value			Balance Sheet				Fair Value
		Location						Location
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
	Interest rate swaps		Other liabilities		$	(139	)		Other liabilities			$	(645	)
	Foreign currency exchange contracts		Other liabilities			(5,567	)		Other liabilities				(2,010	)
	Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
	Interest rate cap		Other assets			206
Summary of Effects of Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships in the Company's Statements of Comprehensive Income	'
		Gain or (Loss)						Location of Gain		Gain or (Loss)							Location of	Amount of
		Recognized in OCI-						or (Loss)		Reclassified							Gain or (Loss)	Gain or (Loss)
		Effective Portion						Reclassified from		from OCI into							Recognized -	Recognized -
								OCI into		Income - Effective							Ineffective	Ineffective
								Income - Effective		Portion							Portion and	Portion and
								Portion									Amount	Amount
																	Excluded from	Excluded from
																	Effectiveness	Effectiveness
																	Testing	Testing
		Three Months Ended								Three Months Ended								Three Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,								September 30,
		2013			2012					2013				2012				2013		2012
	Interest rate swaps	$	132		$	62		Interest expense		$	—			$	—		Other (expense) income	$	—	$	—
	Foreign currency exchange contracts		(1,871	)		2,131		Salaries and employee benefits			(622	)			(389	)	Other (expense) income		—		—
	Foreign currency exchange contracts		(381	)		377		General and administrative expenses			(119	)			(69	)	Other (expense) income		—		—
		Gain or (Loss)						Location of Gain		Gain or (Loss)							Location of	Amount of
		Recognized in OCI-						or (Loss)		Reclassified							Gain or (Loss)	Gain or (Loss)
		Effective Portion						Reclassified from		from OCI into							Recognized -	Recognized -
								OCI into		Income - Effective							Ineffective	Ineffective
								Income - Effective		Portion							Portion and	Portion and
								Portion									Amount	Amount
																	Excluded from	Excluded from
																	Effectiveness	Effectiveness
																	Testing	Testing
		Nine Months Ended								Nine Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,								September 30,
		2013			2012					2013				2012				2013		2012
	Interest rate swaps	$	506		$	(9	)	Interest expense		$	—			$	—		Other (expense) income	$	—	$	—
	Foreign currency exchange contracts		(3,809	)		(69	)	Salaries and			(890	)			(946	)	Other (expense) income		—		—
								employee
								benefits
	Foreign currency exchange contracts		(809	)		173		General and			(171	)			(164	)	Other (expense) income		—		—
								administrative
								expenses

Investment_in_Receivable_Portf1

Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Summary of Accretable Yield and an Estimate of Zero Basis Future Cash Flows	'
	The following table summarizes the Company’s accretable yield and an estimate of zero basis future cash flows at the beginning and end of the period presented (in thousands):
			Accretable			Estimate of			Total
			Yield			Zero Basis
						Cash Flows
	Balance at December 31, 2012		$	984,944		$	17,366		$	1,002,310
	Revenue recognized, net			(135,072	)		(5,611	)		(140,683	)
	Net additions to existing portfolios(1)			173,634			7,061			180,695
	Additions for current purchases(1)			66,808			—			66,808
	Balance at March 31, 2013		$	1,090,314		$	18,816		$	1,109,130
	Revenue recognized, net			(144,186	)		(7,838	)		(152,024	)
	Net additions to existing portfolios(1)			30,458			10,784			41,242
	Additions for current purchases(1), (2)			645,865			—			645,865
	Balance at June 30, 2013		$	1,622,451		$	21,762		$	1,644,213
	Revenue recognized, net			(218,182	)		(7,205	)		(225,387	)
	Net additions to existing portfolios(1)			29,101			3,048			32,149
	Additions for current purchases(1), (2)			975,380			—			975,380
	Balance at September 30, 2013		$	2,408,750		$	17,605		$	2,426,355
			Accretable			Estimate of			Total
			Yield			Zero Basis
						Cash Flows
	Balance at December 31, 2011		$	821,527		$	32,676		$	854,203
	Revenue recognized, net			(119,340	)		(7,065	)		(126,405	)
	Net additions to existing portfolios(1)			131,039			3,608			134,647
	Additions for current purchases(1)			119,533			—			119,533
	Balance at March 31, 2012		$	952,759		$	29,219		$	981,978
	Revenue recognized, net			(131,624	)		(7,107	)		(138,731	)
	Net additions to existing portfolios(1)			77,473			13,738			91,211
	Additions for current purchases(1)			178,332			—			178,332
	Balance at June 30, 2012		$	1,076,940		$	35,850		$	1,112,790
	Revenue recognized, net			(134,295	)		(6,387	)		(140,682	)
	Net additions to existing portfolios(1)			71,730			(2,041	)		69,689
	Additions for current purchases(1)			36,387			—			36,387
	Balance at September 30, 2012		$	1,050,762		$	27,422		$	1,078,184
	(1)	Estimated remaining collections and accretable yield include anticipated collections beyond the 84 to 96 month collection forecast for United States portfolios.
	(2)	Includes $381.2 million of portfolios acquired in connection with the AACC Merger and $559.0 million of portfolios acquired in connection with the Cabot Acquisition discussed in Note 3, “Business Combinations.”
Summary of Changes in Balance of the Investment in Receivable Portfolios	'
	The following tables summarize the changes in the balance of the investment in receivable portfolios during the following periods (in thousands, except percentages):
			Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
			Accrual Basis			Cost Recovery			Zero Basis			Total
			Portfolios			Portfolios			Portfolios
	Balance, beginning of period		$	1,090,922		$	5,776		$	—		$	1,096,698
	Purchases of receivable portfolios(1)			616,779			1,073			—			617,852
	Gross collections(2)			(371,482	)		(983	)		(7,205	)		(379,670	)
	Put-backs and recalls			(755	)		(242	)		—			(997	)
	Foreign currency adjustments			36,372			—			—			36,372
	Revenue recognized			218,182			—			4,227			222,409
	Portfolio allowances reversals, net			—			—			2,978			2,978
	Balance, end of period		$	1,590,018		$	5,624		$	—		$	1,595,642
	Revenue as a percentage of collections(3)			58.7	%		0	%		58.7	%		58.6	%
			Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
			Accrual Basis			Cost Recovery			Zero Basis			Total
			Portfolios			Portfolios			Portfolios
	Balance, beginning of period		$	869,859		$	—		$	—		$	869,859
	Purchases of receivable portfolios			47,311			—			—			47,311
	Gross collections(2)			(239,577	)		—			(6,388	)		(245,965	)
	Put-backs and recalls			(267	)		—			—			(267	)
	Revenue recognized			134,496			—			5,469			139,965
	(Portfolio allowances) portfolio allowance reversals, net			(202	)		—			919			717
	Balance, end of period		$	811,620		$	—		$	—		$	811,620
	Revenue as a percentage of collections(3)			56.1	%		0	%		85.6	%		56.9	%
			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
			Accrual Basis			Cost Recovery			Zero Basis			Total
			Portfolios			Portfolios			Portfolios
	Balance, beginning of period		$	873,119		$	—		$	—		$	873,119
	Purchases of receivable portfolios(1)			1,098,663			1,073			—			1,099,736
	Transfer of portfolios			(6,649	)		6,649			—			—
	Gross collections(2)			(905,751	)		(1,825	)		(20,652	)		(928,228	)
	Put-backs and recalls			(2,512	)		(273	)		(2	)		(2,787	)
	Foreign currency adjustments			35,708			—			—			35,708
	Revenue recognized			496,804			—			13,632			510,436
	Portfolio allowances reversals, net			636			—			7,022			7,658
	Balance, end of period		$	1,590,018		$	5,624		$	—		$	1,595,642
	Revenue as a percentage of collections(3)			54.8	%		0	%		66	%		55	%
			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
			Accrual Basis			Cost Recovery			Zero Basis			Total
			Portfolios			Portfolios			Portfolios
	Balance, beginning of period		$	716,454		$	—		$	—		$	716,454
	Purchases of receivable portfolios			408,757			—			—			408,757
	Gross collections(2)			(696,957	)		—			(20,560	)		(717,517	)
	Put-backs and recalls			(1,892	)		—			—			(1,892	)
	Revenue recognized			386,685			—			17,627			404,312
	(Portfolio allowances) portfolio allowance reversals, net			(1,427	)		—			2,933			1,506
	Balance, end of period		$	811,620		$	—		$	—		$	811,620
	Revenue as a percentage of collections(3)			55.5	%		0	%		85.7	%		56.3	%
	(1)	Purchases of portfolio receivables include $381.2 million acquired in connection with the AACC Merger in June 2013 and $559.0 million acquired in connection with the Cabot Acquisition in July 2013 discussed in Note 3, “Business Combinations.”
	(2)	Does not include amounts collected on behalf of others.
	(3)	Revenue as a percentage of collections excludes the effects of net portfolio allowances or net portfolio allowance reversals.
Summary of Change in the Valuation Allowance for Investment in Receivable Portfolios	'
	The following table summarizes the change in the valuation allowance for investment in receivable portfolios during the periods presented (in thousands):
			Valuation Allowance
			Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2013			2012			2013			2012
	Balance at beginning of period		$	100,593		$	108,705		$	105,273		$	109,494
	Provision for portfolio allowances			—			1,616			479			5,491
	Reversal of prior allowances			(2,978	)		(2,333	)		(8,137	)		(6,997	)
	Balance at end of period		$	97,615		$	107,988		$	97,615		$	107,988
Summary of Total Collections by Collection Channel	'
	The Company currently utilizes various business channels for the collection of its receivables. The following table summarizes the total collections by collection channel and geographic area (in thousands):
			Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2013			2012			2013			2012
	United States:
	Legal collections		$	153,556		$	111,334		$	409,511		$	335,782
	Collection sites			119,080			116,928			362,495			338,439
	Collection agencies (1)			39,607			17,715			88,795			43,344
	Subtotal			312,243			245,977			860,801			717,565
	United Kingdom:
	Collection sites			37,931			—			37,931			—
	Collection agencies			29,496			—			29,496			—
			Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2013			2012			2013			2012
	Subtotal			67,427			—			67,427			—
	Total collections		$	379,670		$	245,977		$	928,228		$	717,565
	(1)	Collections through our collection agency channel in the United States include accounts subject to bankruptcy filings collected by others. Additionally, collection agency collections often include accounts purchased from a competitor where we maintain the collection agency servicing until the accounts can be recalled and placed in our collection channels.

Receivables_Secured_by_Propert1

Receivables Secured by Property Tax Liens, Net (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Aging Analysis of Receivables Secured by Tax Liens	'
	The following table presents the Company’s aging analysis of receivables secured by tax liens as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Current	$	113,985	$	101,052
	31-60 days past due		12,500		10,175
	61-90 days past due		4,269		1,982
	> 90 days past due		24,530		21,891
	Tax lien transfer		155,284		135,100
	Tax lien certificates		30,906		—
		$	186,190	$	135,100

Deferred_Court_Costs_Net_Table

Deferred Court Costs, Net (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Deferred Court Costs	'
	Deferred Court Costs consist of the following as of the dates presented (in thousands):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Court costs advanced	$	365,714		$	279,314
	Court costs recovered		(132,750	)		(94,827	)
	Court costs reserve		(193,960	)		(149,080	)
		$	39,004		$	35,407
Schedule of Court Cost Reserve	'
	A roll forward of the Company’s court cost reserve is as follows (in thousands):
		Court Cost Reserve
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Balance at beginning of period	$	(176,094	)	$	(132,780	)	$	(149,080	)	$	(130,454	)
	Provision for court costs		(17,866	)		(13,378	)		(44,880	)		(37,536	)
	Write-off of reserve after the deferral period		—			5,651			—			27,483
	Balance at end of period	$	(193,960	)	$	(140,507	)	$	(193,960	)	$	(140,507	)

Other_Assets_Tables

Other Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Deferred Costs Capitalized Prepaid And Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Components of Other Assets	'
	Other assets consist of the following (in thousands):
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Debt issuance costs, net of amortization	$	29,275	$	14,397
	Prepaid income taxes		24,975		—
	Deferred tax assets		13,229		—
	Service fee receivable		12,662		—
	Prepaid expenses		12,710		6,399
	Identifiable intangible assets, net		10,481		487
	Interest receivable		6,851		4,042
	Security deposit—India building leases		2,405		1,696
	Recoverable legal fees		2,573		1,521
	Other		5,280		2,993
		$	120,441	$	31,535

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Components of Debt	'
	The components of the Company’s consolidated debt and capital lease obligations are as follows (in thousands):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Encore revolving credit facility	$	343,000		$	258,000
	Encore term loan facility		166,813			148,125
	Encore senior secured notes		62,500			72,500
	Encore convertible notes		287,500			115,000
	Less: Debt discount		(43,846	)		(14,442	)
	Propel TLT facility		131,292			117,601
	Propel TLC facility		26,977			—
	Cabot senior secured notes		591,081			—
	Add: Debt premium		44,164			—
	Preferred equity certificates		190,279			—
	Capital lease obligations		6,920			9,252
		$	1,806,680		$	706,036
Balances of the Liability and Equity Components	'
	The balances of the liability and equity components of all of the convertible notes outstanding were as follows (in thousands):
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Liability component—principal amount	$	287,500		$	115,000
	Unamortized debt discount		(43,846	)		(14,442	)
	Liability component—net carrying amount	$	243,654		$	100,558
	Equity component	$	46,954		$	14,702
Cabot Senior Secured Notes [Member]	'
Interest Expense	'
	Interest expense related to the Cabot Notes was as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended
		September 30, 2013
	Interest expense – stated coupon rate	$	12,857
	Interest income – appreciation of debt premium		(1,367	)
	Total interest expense – Cabot Notes	$	11,490
Convertible notes [Member]	'
Interest Expense	'
	Interest expense related to the convertible notes was as follows (in thousands):
		Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
		September 30, 2013			September 30, 2013
	Interest expense – stated coupon rate	$	2,141		$	3,947
	Interest expense – amortization of debt discount		1,570			2,887
	Total interest expense – convertible notes	$	3,711		$	6,834

Variable_Interest_Entity_Table

Variable Interest Entity (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Assets and Liabilities of Variable Interest Entity	'
	The following table presents Janus Holdings’ assets and liabilities (after elimination of intercompany transactions and balances) in the Company’s consolidated statement of financial position as of September 30, 2013 (in thousands):
		September 30,
		2013
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	54,584
	Investment in receivable portfolios, net		596,160
	Property and equipment, net		14,249
	Other assets		32,102
	Goodwill		369,912
	Total assets	$	1,067,007
	Liabilities
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	31,817
	Deferred tax liabilities, net		6,978
	Debt		825,524
	Other liabilities		113
	Total liabilities	$	864,432

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Effective Tax Rates	'
	The effective tax rates for the respective periods are shown below:
			Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2013			2012			2013			2012
	Federal provision			35	%		35	%		35	%		35	%
	State provision			5.2	%		6.5	%		5.2	%		6.5	%
	State benefit			(1.8	%)		(2.3	%)		(1.8	%)		(2.3	%)
	Changes in state apportionment(1)			(4.0	%)		(0.5	%)		(1.7	%)		0.7	%
	Tax reserves(2)			1.8	%		0	%		0.7	%		0	%
	International provision(3)			(4.8	%)		(0.5	%)		(2.0	%)		(0.6	%)
	Permanent items(4)			1.1	%		1.3	%		1.3	%		0.4	%
	Effective rate			32.5	%		39.5	%		36.7	%		39.7	%
	(1)	Represents changes in state apportionment methodologies.
	(2)	Represents reserves taken for certain tax position adopted by the Company.
	(3)	Relates primarily to the lower tax rate on the income attributable to Cabot.
	(4)	Represents a provision for nondeductible items.

Purchase_Concentrations_Tables

Purchase Concentrations (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Summary of Concentration of Initial Purchase Cost	'
	The following table summarizes purchases by seller sorted by total aggregate cost (in thousands, except percentages):
		Nine Months Ended
		30-Sep-13
		Cost		%
	Portfolios acquired in Cabot Acquisition	$	558,951		50.8	%
	Portfolios acquired in AACC Merger		381,233		34.7	%
	Seller 1		24,610		2.2	%
	Seller 2		24,067		2.2	%
	Seller 3		17,151		1.6	%
	Other sellers		93,724		8.5	%
	Total purchases	$	1,099,736		100	%

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Reconciliation of Revenue and Operating Income from Segments to Consolidated	'
	The following table provides a reconciliation of revenue and segment operating income by reportable segment to consolidated results and was derived from the segments’ internal financial information as used for corporate management purposes (in thousands):
			Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2013			2012			2013			2012
	Revenues:
	Portfolio purchasing and recovery		$	230,885		$	140,682		$	523,659		$	405,818
	Tax lien business			4,673			4,536			12,606			7,056
			$	235,558		$	145,218		$	536,265		$	412,874
	Operating income:
	Portfolio purchasing and recovery		$	67,803		$	42,980		$	143,961		$	123,079
	Tax lien business			1,832			2,055			3,455			2,874
				69,635			45,035			147,416			125,953
	Depreciation and amortization			(4,523	)		(1,533	)		(8,527	)		(4,193	)
	Stock-based compensation			(3,983	)		(1,905	)		(9,163	)		(6,710	)
	Other expense			(29,485	)		(6,402	)		(47,784	)		(18,253	)
	Income from continuing operations before income taxes		$	31,644		$	35,195		$	81,942		$	96,797
Schedule of Geographical Areas of Which Company Operates	'
	The following presents information about geographic areas in which the Company operates (in thousands):
			Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2013			2012			2013			2012
	Revenues(1) :
	United States		$	189,086		$	145,218		$	489,793		$	412,874
	United Kingdom			46,472			—			46,472			—
			$	235,558		$	145,218		$	536,265		$	412,874
	(1)	Revenues are attributed to countries based on location of customer.

Goodwill_and_Identifiable_Inta1

Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Summary of Acquired Intangible Assets	'
	The Company’s acquired intangible assets are summarized as follows (in thousands):
			As of September 30, 2013								As of December 31, 2012
			Gross			Accumulated			Net		Gross		Accumulated			Net
			Carrying			Amortization			Carrying		Carrying		Amortization			Carrying
			Amount						Amount		Amount					Amount
	Intangible assets subject to amortization:
	Customer relationships		$	1,494		$	(42	)	$	1,452	$	570	$	(83	)	$	487
	Developed technologies			4,681			(234	)		4,447		—		—			—
	Trade name and other			2,876			(256	)		2,620		—		—			—
	Total intangible assets subject to amortization		$	9,051		$	(532	)	$	8,519	$	570	$	(83	)	$	487
	Intangible assets not subject to amortization:
	Goodwill – portfolio purchasing and recovery								$	444,130						$	6,047
	Goodwill – tax lien business									45,390							49,399
	Other intangibles									1,962							—
	Total intangible assets not subject to amortization								$	491,482						$	55,446
Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill by Reporting Unit	'
	The changes in carrying amount of goodwill by reporting unit for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 are as follows (in thousands):
			Portfolio Purchasing			Tax Lien business
			and Recovery
	Balance, December 31, 2012		$	6,047		$	49,399
	Goodwill acquired			419,969			—
	Goodwill adjustment			(180	)		(4,009	)(1)
	Effect of foreign currency translation			18,294			—
	Balance, September 30, 2013		$	444,130		$	45,390
	(1)	As a result of its final valuation study related to the Company’s acquisition of Propel, during the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company made an adjustment to the initial purchase price allocation, increasing receivables secured by tax liens and decreasing goodwill by approximately $4.0 million.

Ownership_Description_of_Busin2

Ownership, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Percentage of payments made for portfolio purchase	50.00%
Maximum [Member]	'
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Foreclosure rate	0.50%

Discontinued_Operations_Additi

Discontinued Operations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	31-May-12	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Discontinued Operations And Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'	'	'
Additional recognition of loss contingency	$4	'	'
Description of payment of earn-out of EBITDA from discontinued operation	'Company will be paid an earn-out equal to 40% of Ascension's EBITDA for the first five years commencing May 16, 2012.	'	'
Recognized loss contingency	'	'	4
Expenses incurred	'	$0.50	'

Discontinued_Operations_Revenu

Discontinued Operations - Revenue and Loss from Discontinued Operations (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Discontinued Operations And Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	$5,704
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes	-500	'	-500	-11,942
Income tax benefit	192	'	192	4,678
Loss from discontinued operations	-308	'	-308	-7,264
Loss on sale of discontinued operations, before income taxes	'	'	'	-2,416
Income tax benefit	'	'	'	586
Loss on sale of discontinued operations	'	'	'	-1,830
Total loss from discontinued operations	($308)	'	($308)	($9,094)

Business_Combinations_Addition

Business Combinations - Additional Information (Detail)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Jul. 02, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 13, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jul. 02, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jul. 02, 2013

Jul. 02, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jul. 02, 2013

Jul. 02, 2013

Jul. 02, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jul. 02, 2013

Jul. 02, 2013

Jul. 02, 2013

Jul. 02, 2013

Jul. 02, 2013

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Janus Holdings [Member]

Janus Holdings [Member]

Janus Holdings [Member]

Encore Europe Consolidated [Member]

Encore Europe Consolidated [Member]

AACC Merger [Member]

AACC Merger [Member]

AACC Merger [Member]

Cabot Credit Management [Member]

Cabot Acquisition [Member]

Cabot Acquisition [Member]

Cabot Acquisition [Member]

Cabot Acquisition [Member]

Cabot Acquisition [Member]

Cabot Acquisition [Member]

Cabot Acquisition [Member]

Cabot Acquisition [Member]

J.C Flowers [Member]

Cabot Holdings [Member]

Cabot Holdings [Member]

Cabot Holdings [Member]

Cabot Holdings [Member]

Cabot Holdings [Member]

USD ($)

Preferred Equity Certificate [Member]

USD ($)

Preferred Equity Certificate [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Janus Holdings [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

A Shares [Member]

Janus Holdings [Member]

Janus Holdings [Member]

Janus Holdings [Member]

Janus Holdings [Member]

Janus Holdings [Member]

A Shares [Member]

Janus Holdings [Member]

Janus Holdings [Member]

Janus Holdings [Member]

Janus Holdings [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

GBP (£)

Subsequent Event [Member]

E Shares [Member]

E Bridge PECs [Member]

E PECs [Member]

J Shares [Member]

J Bridge PECs [Member]

J PECs [Member]

GBP (£)

GBP (£)

GBP (£)

GBP (£)

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of equity interest acquired

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50.10%

'

'

'

'

42.90%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument purchased, face value

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

£ 10,218,574

'

'

'

'

'

£ 10,177,781

'

Debt instrument purchased, face amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

96,729,661

'

'

'

'

'

96,343,515

Common stock, shares issued

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,498,563

'

'

100

100

'

'

'

'

Number of shares held

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,484,597

'

'

Aggregate purchase price

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

150,800,000

'

316,485,000

'

'

177,246,000

'

115,100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Minority interest percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

49.90%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

49.90%

'

'

'

Interest rate of PECs

12.00%

'

12.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Acquisition and integration costs

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,800,000

7,900,000

'

3,300,000

6,400,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total revenues

235,558,000

145,218,000

536,265,000

412,874,000

'

46,472,000

'

'

46,472,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net income

21,064,000

21,308,000

51,524,000

49,310,000

'

-1,440,000

'

'

3,558,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net (loss) income attributable to Encore

21,886,000

21,308,000

52,346,000

49,310,000

'

-618,000

'

'

4,380,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

-822,000

'

-822,000

'

'

-822,000

'

'

-822,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Noncontrolling ownership interest percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

57.10%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

PEC interest (expense) income

4,379,000

4,110,000

11,698,000

6,442,000

'

'

'

-10,875,000

'

-5,877,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Goodwill

489,520,000

'

489,520,000

'

55,446,000

369,912,000

'

'

'

'

'

68,171,000

68,171,000

'

351,618,000

351,618,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Common stock, price per share

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$37.30

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Business acquisition, debt paid off on the closing date of AACC Merger

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

165,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Revenue included in condensed consolidated statement of income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

49,100,000

59,100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net income included in condensed consolidated statement of income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$7,300,000

$8,200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Business_Combinations_Summary_

Business Combinations - Summary of Operating Performance (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	$235,558	$145,218	$536,265	$412,874
Total operating expenses	-174,429	-103,621	-406,539	-297,824
Income from operations	61,129	41,597	129,726	115,050
Interest expense - non-PEC	-29,186	-7,012	-43,522	-19,024
PEC interest (expense) income	4,379	4,110	11,698	6,442
(Loss) income before income taxes	31,644	35,195	81,942	96,797
Provision for income taxes	-10,272	-13,887	-30,110	-38,393
Net income	21,064	21,308	51,524	49,310
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	822	'	822	'
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	21,886	21,308	52,346	49,310
Janus Holdings [Member]	'	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	46,472	'	'	'
Total operating expenses	-23,640	'	'	'
Income from operations	22,832	'	'	'
Other income	96	'	'	'
(Loss) income before income taxes	-266	'	'	'
Provision for income taxes	-1,174	'	'	'
Net income	-1,440	'	'	'
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	822	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	-618	'	'	'
Janus Holdings [Member] | Non Preferred Equity Certificate [Member]	'	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Interest expense - non-PEC	-12,319	'	'	'
Janus Holdings [Member] | Preferred Equity Certificate [Member]	'	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
PEC interest (expense) income	-10,875	'	'	'
Encore Europe [Member]	'	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
(Loss) income before income taxes	4,998	'	'	'
Net income	4,998	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	4,998	'	'	'
Encore Europe [Member] | Preferred Equity Certificate [Member]	'	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
PEC interest (expense) income	4,998	'	'	'
Encore Europe Consolidated [Member]	'	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	46,472	'	'	'
Total operating expenses	-23,640	'	'	'
Income from operations	22,832	'	'	'
Other income	96	'	'	'
(Loss) income before income taxes	4,732	'	'	'
Provision for income taxes	-1,174	'	'	'
Net income	3,558	'	'	'
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	822	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	4,380	'	'	'
Encore Europe Consolidated [Member] | Non Preferred Equity Certificate [Member]	'	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Interest expense - non-PEC	-12,319	'	'	'
Encore Europe Consolidated [Member] | Preferred Equity Certificate [Member]	'	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
PEC interest (expense) income	($5,877)	'	'	'

Business_Combinations_Componen

Business Combinations - Components of Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation for Acquisition/Merger (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 13, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			AACC Merger [Member]	AACC Merger [Member]	Cabot Acquisition [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Cash paid at acquisition	'	'	$150,800	$316,485	$177,246
Stock consideration	'	'	'	62,352	'
Total net assets acquired	'	'	'	378,837	177,246
Allocation of purchase price:	'	'	'	'	'
Cash	'	'	'	23,156	57,520
Investment in receivable portfolios	'	'	'	381,233	558,951
Deferred court costs	'	'	'	6,141	'
Property and equipment	'	'	'	11,003	13,672
Other assets	'	'	'	16,004	20,772
Preferred equity certificates assumed	'	'	'	'	-211,549
Liabilities assumed	'	'	'	-128,341	'
Debt assumed	'	'	'	'	-559,907
Other liabilities assumed	'	'	'	'	-44,727
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	'	'	'	'	-12,064
Noncontrolling interests	'	'	'	'	-4,051
Identifiable intangible assets	'	'	'	1,470	7,011
Goodwill	489,520	55,446	'	68,171	351,618
Total net assets acquired	'	'	'	378,837	177,246
Total net assets acquired	'	'	'	$378,837	$177,246

Business_Combinations_Pro_Form

Business Combinations - Pro Forma Consolidated Results of Operations (Detail) (Consolidated Entities [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Consolidated Entities [Member]	'	'	'	'
Business Acquisitions Pro Forma Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Consolidated pro forma revenue	$235,558	$236,693	$712,237	$693,718
Consolidated pro forma income from continuing operations attributable to Encore	$22,194	$27,743	$68,731	$75,928

Earnings_per_Share_Reconciliat

Earnings per Share - Reconciliation of Shares Used in Calculating Earnings Per Basic and Diluted Shares (Detail)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	25,535	25,071	24,323	24,930
Dilutive effect of stock-based awards	843	976	940	990
Dilutive effect of convertible senior notes	805	'	298	'
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	27,183	26,047	25,561	25,920

Earnings_per_Share_Additional_

Earnings per Share - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 27, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012
		2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Employee Stock Options [Member]	Employee Stock Options [Member]
Schedule Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Anti-dilutive securities to purchase common stock excluded from computation of diluted earnings per share	3,600,000	'	'	210,000	335,000
Initial conversion price per share	'	$31.56	$31.56	'	'
Effective conversion price of Notes per share	'	$44.19	'	'	'
Warrant's exercise price	$44.19	'	'	'	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Summar

Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member], USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets	'	'
Interest rate cap	$206	'
Liabilities	'	'
Interest rate swap agreements	-139	-645
Foreign currency exchange contracts	-5,567	-2,010
Temporary Equity	'	'
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	-12,231	'
Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Interest rate cap	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Interest rate swap agreements	'	'
Foreign currency exchange contracts	'	'
Temporary Equity	'	'
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	'	'
Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Interest rate cap	206	'
Liabilities	'	'
Interest rate swap agreements	-139	-645
Foreign currency exchange contracts	-5,567	-2,010
Temporary Equity	'	'
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	'	'
Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Assets	'	'
Interest rate cap	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Interest rate swap agreements	'	'
Foreign currency exchange contracts	'	'
Temporary Equity	'	'
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	($12,231)	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Change

Fair Value Measurements - Change in Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Balance at beginning of period	'
Initial redeemable noncontrolling interest related to business combination	12,064
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	-615
Effect of foreign currency translation attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	782
Balance at end of period	$12,231

Fair_Value_Measurements_Additi

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value Measurements Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fluctuation in discount rate	1.00%	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated market participant cost to collect	50.30%	'	'	'	'	'
Discount rate	12.00%	'	'	'	'	'
Carrying value of investment in receivable portfolios	$1,595,642,000	$1,096,698,000	$873,119,000	$811,620,000	$869,859,000	$716,454,000
Convertible senior notes, carrying value	287,500,000	'	115,000,000	'	'	'
Convertible senior notes, debt discount	43,846,000	'	14,442,000	'	'	'
Fair value estimate of convertible senior notes incorporates quoted market prices	384,700,000	'	128,300,000	'	'	'
United States [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Measurements Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated market participant cost to collect	29.70%	'	'	'	'	'
United Kingdom [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Measurements Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Discount rate	18.20%	'	'	'	'	'
Cost to collect [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Measurements Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Increase or decrease of the fair value	37,900,000	'	'	'	'	'
Discount rate [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Fair Value Measurements Of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Increase or decrease of the fair value	$18,300,000	'	'	'	'	'

Derivatives_and_Hedging_Instru2

Derivatives and Hedging Instruments - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 28, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 07, 2013	Jun. 07, 2013
	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	Interest rate swaps [Member]	Forward contracts [Member]	Forward contracts [Member]	Zero-cost collar foreign exchange contract [Member]	Zero-cost collar foreign exchange contract [Member]	Zero-cost collar foreign exchange contract [Member]
	Interest_Rate_Swaps			Interest_Rate_Swaps		USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)		USD ($)	EUR (€)
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Notional amount of derivative instruments	'	'	'	'	'	$75	'	$52.80	'	$206	€ 132.10
Number of interest rate swap agreements outstanding	3	'	'	3	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash payments of future forecasted transactions in Indian rupees maximum	'	'	'	'36 months	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net derivative loss included in OCI will be reclassified into earnings	'	'	'	2.2	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Gains or losses were reclassified from OCI into earnings	0	'	0	0	0	'	'	'	'	'	'
Derivative expiry date	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	13-Aug-13	'	'
Foreign exchange contract loss	'	'	'	'	'	'	3.6	'	'	'	'
Decrease in estimated purchase price by offsetting foreign exchange loss	'	$4.30	'	$4.30	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Derivatives_and_Hedging_Instru3

Derivatives and Hedging Instruments - Summary of Fair Value of Derivative Instruments as Recorded in Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Other Liabilities [Member] | Interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments	($139)	($645)
Other Liabilities [Member] | Foreign currency exchange contracts [Member]	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments	-5,567	-2,010
Other assets [Member] | Interest rate cap [Member]	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments	$206	'

Derivatives_and_Hedging_Instru4

Derivatives and Hedging Instruments - Summary of Effects of Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships in Company's Statements of Comprehensive Income (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI - Effective Portion	$132	$62	$506	($9)
Foreign currency exchange contracts 1 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI - Effective Portion	-1,871	2,131	-3,809	-69
Foreign currency exchange contracts 2 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain or (Loss) Recognized in OCI - Effective Portion	-381	377	-809	173
Other (expense) income [Member] | Interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized - Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing	'	'	'	'
Other (expense) income [Member] | Foreign currency exchange contracts 1 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized - Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing	'	'	'	'
Other (expense) income [Member] | Foreign currency exchange contracts 2 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized - Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing	'	'	'	'
Interest expense [Member] | Interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from OCI into Income - Effective Portion	'	'	'	'
Salaries and employee benefits [Member] | Foreign currency exchange contracts 1 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from OCI into Income - Effective Portion	-622	-389	-890	-946
General and administrative expenses [Member] | Foreign currency exchange contracts 2 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from OCI into Income - Effective Portion	($119)	($69)	($171)	($164)

Investment_in_Receivable_Portf2

Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
					Investment Receivables AACC [Member]	Cabot Acquisition [Member]	Cabot Acquisition [Member]	Cabot Acquisition [Member]	Minimum [Member]	Maximum [Member]	Maximum [Member]
											Cabot Holdings [Member]
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Collection forecast estimated on receivable portfolios	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'84 months	'96 months	'120 months
Investment in receivable portfolios collection forecast estimate	$142,600,000	'	$142,600,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Income recognized under cost recovery method	'	'	0	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Face value of receivable portfolios	13,400,000,000	1,100,000,000	83,900,000,000	10,000,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Purchase price of receivable portfolios	617,852,000	47,311,000	1,099,736,000	408,757,000	381,200,000	559,000,000	559,000,000	559,000,000	'	'	'
Purchase cost as a percentage of face value	4.60%	4.50%	1.30%	4.10%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated future collections at acquisition for receivable portfolios	1,500,000,000	80,400,000	2,600,000,000	717,300,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Zero Basis Revenue	$4,200,000	$5,500,000	$13,600,000	$17,600,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Investment_in_Receivable_Portf3

Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net - Summary of Accretable Yield and an Estimate of Zero Basis Future Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning Balance	$1,644,213	$1,109,130	$1,002,310	$1,112,790	$981,978	$854,203
Revenue recognized, net	-225,387	-152,024	-140,683	-140,682	-138,731	-126,405
Net additions to existing portfolios	32,149	41,242	180,695	69,689	91,211	134,647
Additions for current purchases	975,380	645,865	66,808	36,387	178,332	119,533
Ending Balance	2,426,355	1,644,213	1,109,130	1,078,184	1,112,790	981,978
Accretable Yield [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning Balance	1,622,451	1,090,314	984,944	1,076,940	952,759	821,527
Revenue recognized, net	-218,182	-144,186	-135,072	-134,295	-131,624	-119,340
Net additions to existing portfolios	29,101	30,458	173,634	71,730	77,473	131,039
Additions for current purchases	975,380	645,865	66,808	36,387	178,332	119,533
Ending Balance	2,408,750	1,622,451	1,090,314	1,050,762	1,076,940	952,759
Estimate of Zero Basis Cash Flows [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning Balance	21,762	18,816	17,366	35,850	29,219	32,676
Revenue recognized, net	-7,205	-7,838	-5,611	-6,387	-7,107	-7,065
Net additions to existing portfolios	3,048	10,784	7,061	-2,041	13,738	3,608
Ending Balance	$17,605	$21,762	$18,816	$27,422	$35,850	$29,219

Investment_in_Receivable_Portf4

Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net - Summary of Accretable Yield and an Estimate of Zero Basis Future Cash Flows (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jul. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
					Cabot Acquisition [Member]	Cabot Acquisition [Member]	Cabot Acquisition [Member]	Investment Receivables AACC [Member]
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Purchase price of receivable portfolios	$617,852	$47,311	$1,099,736	$408,757	$559,000	$559,000	$559,000	$381,200

Investment_in_Receivable_Portf5

Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net - Summary of Changes in Balance of Investment in Receivable Portfolios (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Balance, beginning of period	$1,096,698	$869,859	$873,119	$716,454
Purchases of receivable portfolios	617,852	47,311	1,099,736	408,757
Gross collections	-379,670	-245,965	-928,228	-717,517
Put-backs and recalls	-997	-267	-2,787	-1,892
Foreign currency adjustments	36,372	'	35,708	'
Revenue recognized	222,409	139,965	510,436	404,312
(Portfolio allowances) portfolio allowance reversals, net	2,978	717	7,658	1,506
Balance, end of period	1,595,642	811,620	1,595,642	811,620
Revenue as a percentage of collections	58.60%	56.90%	55.00%	56.30%
Accrual Basis Portfolios [Member]	'	'	'	'
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Balance, beginning of period	1,090,922	869,859	873,119	716,454
Purchases of receivable portfolios	616,779	47,311	1,098,663	408,757
Gross collections	-371,482	-239,577	-905,751	-696,957
Put-backs and recalls	-755	-267	-2,512	-1,892
Foreign currency adjustments	36,372	'	35,708	'
Revenue recognized	218,182	134,496	496,804	386,685
(Portfolio allowances) portfolio allowance reversals, net	'	-202	636	-1,427
Balance, end of period	1,590,018	811,620	1,590,018	811,620
Revenue as a percentage of collections	58.70%	56.10%	54.80%	55.50%
Transfer of portfolios	'	'	-6,649	'
Cost Recovery Portfolios [Member]	'	'	'	'
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Balance, beginning of period	5,776	'	'	'
Purchases of receivable portfolios	1,073	'	1,073	'
Gross collections	-983	'	-1,825	'
Put-backs and recalls	-242	'	-273	'
Balance, end of period	5,624	'	5,624	'
Revenue as a percentage of collections	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Transfer of portfolios	'	'	6,649	'
Zero Basis Portfolios [Member]	'	'	'	'
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gross collections	-7,205	-6,388	-20,652	-20,560
Put-backs and recalls	'	'	-2	'
Revenue recognized	4,227	5,469	13,632	17,627
(Portfolio allowances) portfolio allowance reversals, net	$2,978	$919	$7,022	$2,933
Revenue as a percentage of collections	58.70%	85.60%	66.00%	85.70%

Investment_in_Receivable_Portf6

Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net - Summary of Changes in Balance of Investment in Receivable Portfolios (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
					AACC Merger [Member]	Cabot Acquisition [Member]	Cabot Acquisition [Member]	Cabot Acquisition [Member]
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Purchase price of receivable portfolios	$617,852	$47,311	$1,099,736	$408,757	$381,200	$559,000	$559,000	$559,000

Investment_in_Receivable_Portf7

Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net - Summary of Change in Valuation Allowance for Investment in Receivable Portfolios (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of period	$100,593	$108,705	$105,273	$109,494
Provision for portfolio allowances	'	1,616	479	5,491
Reversal of prior allowances	-2,978	-2,333	-8,137	-6,997
Balance at end of period	$97,615	$107,988	$97,615	$107,988

Investment_in_Receivable_Portf8

Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net - Summary of Total Collections by Collection Channel (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Collection Of Receivables [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Collection of receivables	$379,670	$245,977	$928,228	$717,565
United States [Member]	'	'	'	'
Collection Of Receivables [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Collection of receivables	312,243	245,977	860,801	717,565
United States [Member] | Legal collections [Member]	'	'	'	'
Collection Of Receivables [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Collection of receivables	153,556	111,334	409,511	335,782
United States [Member] | Collection sites [Member]	'	'	'	'
Collection Of Receivables [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Collection of receivables	119,080	116,928	362,495	338,439
United States [Member] | Collection agencies [Member]	'	'	'	'
Collection Of Receivables [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Collection of receivables	39,607	17,715	88,795	43,344
United Kingdom [Member]	'	'	'	'
Collection Of Receivables [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Collection of receivables	67,427	'	67,427	'
United Kingdom [Member] | Collection sites [Member]	'	'	'	'
Collection Of Receivables [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Collection of receivables	37,931	'	37,931	'
United Kingdom [Member] | Collection agencies [Member]	'	'	'	'
Collection Of Receivables [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Collection of receivables	$29,496	'	$29,496	'

Receivables_Secured_by_Propert2

Receivables Secured by Property Tax Liens, Net - Additional Information (Detail)	Sep. 30, 2013
Property Tax Payment Agreements Receivable Net [Abstract]	'
Maximum rare lien to value ratio, percentage	25.00%
Maximum typical lien to value ratio, percentage	15.00%

Receivables_Secured_by_Propert3

Receivables Secured by Property Tax Liens, Net - Aging Analysis of Receivables Secured by Tax Liens (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Aging[Line Items]	'	'
Receivables secured by tax liens	$186,190	$135,100
Property tax payment agreements receivable [Member]	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Aging[Line Items]	'	'
Current	113,985	101,052
31-60 days past due	12,500	10,175
61-90 days past due	4,269	1,982
> 90 days past due	24,530	21,891
Tax lien transfer [Member]	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Aging[Line Items]	'	'
Receivables secured by tax liens	155,284	135,100
Tax lien certificates [Member]	'	'
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Aging[Line Items]	'	'
Receivables secured by tax liens	$30,906	'

Deferred_Court_Costs_Net_Addit

Deferred Court Costs, Net - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Deferred Costs Capitalized Prepaid And Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Deferred Court Costs not recovered, years	'3 years
Extended Deferred Court Costs not recovered, years	'5 years

Deferred_Court_Costs_Net_Sched

Deferred Court Costs, Net - Schedule of Deferred Court Costs (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Deferred Costs Capitalized Prepaid And Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Court costs advanced	$365,714	'	$279,314	'	'	'
Court costs recovered	-132,750	'	-94,827	'	'	'
Court costs reserve	-193,960	-176,094	-149,080	-140,507	-132,780	-130,454
Deferred court costs, net	$39,004	'	$35,407	'	'	'

Deferred_Court_Costs_Net_Sched1

Deferred Court Costs, Net - Schedule of Court Cost Reserve (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Deferred Costs Capitalized Prepaid And Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of period	($176,094)	($132,780)	($149,080)	($130,454)
Provision for court costs	-17,866	-13,378	-44,880	-37,536
Write-off of reserve after the deferral period	'	5,651	'	27,483
Balance at end of period	($193,960)	($140,507)	($193,960)	($140,507)

Other_Assets_Components_of_Oth

Other Assets - Components of Other Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Deferred Costs Capitalized Prepaid And Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Debt issuance costs, net of amortization	$29,275	$14,397
Prepaid income taxes	24,975	'
Deferred tax assets	13,229	'
Service fee receivable	12,662	'
Prepaid expenses	12,710	6,399
Identifiable intangible assets, net	10,481	487
Interest receivable	6,851	4,042
Security deposit-India building leases	2,405	1,696
Recoverable legal fees	2,573	1,521
Other	5,280	2,993
Total other assets	$120,441	$31,535

Debt_Components_of_Debt_Detail

Debt - Components of Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Encore revolving credit facility	$343,000	$258,000
Encore term loan facility	166,813	148,125
Encore senior secured notes	62,500	72,500
Encore convertible notes	287,500	115,000
Less: Debt discount	-43,846	-14,442
Add: Debt premium	44,164	'
Preferred equity certificates	190,279	'
Capital lease obligations	6,920	9,252
Debt and capital lease obligations, total	1,806,680	706,036
Propel TLT Facility [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Encore revolving credit facility	131,292	117,601
Propel TLC Facility [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Encore revolving credit facility	26,977	'
Cabot Senior Secured Notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Encore senior secured notes	$591,081	'

Debt_Additional_Information_De

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Revolving credit facility	$613.90
Subordinated debt basket	300
Percentage to be added to base rate for alternate base rate	0.50%
Percentage to be added to adjusted base rate for alternate base rate	1.00%
Minimum [Member] | Five-year tranche, One [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	2.50%
Minimum [Member] | Five-year tranche, Two [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	1.50%
Maximum [Member] | Five-year tranche, One [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	3.00%
Maximum [Member] | Five-year tranche, Two [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	2.00%
Revolving credit facility [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Maximum borrowing capacity including accordion agreement after amendment	975
Maturity of term loan facility and revolving credit facility	'5 years
Term loan facility and revolving credit facility expiry date	1-Nov-17
Revolving credit facility, initial amount of a sub-tranche of the term loan	50
Term loan maturity	'3 years
Term loan expiry date	'November 2015
Revolving credit facility	613.9
Revolving credit facility, description of loan	'A revolving loan of $613.9 million, interest at a floating rate equal to, at the Companybs option, either: (1) reserve adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate (bLIBORb), plus a spread that ranges from, depending on the Companybs cash flow leverage ratio, 250 to 300 basis points; or (2) Alternate Base Rate, plus a spread that ranges from, depending on the Companybs cash flow leverage ratio, 150 to 200 basis points. bAlternate Base Rate,b as defined in the agreement, means the highest of (i) the per annum rate which the administrative agent publicly announces from time to time as its prime lending rate, as in effect from time to time, (ii) the federal funds effective rate from time to time, plus 0.5% and (iii) reserved adjusted LIBOR determined on a daily basis for a one month interest period, plus 1.0%;
Term Loan [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Term loan facility tranche amount	150
Additional line of revolving credit facility	162.5
Six-months term loan facility [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Term loan facility tranche amount	$48.60
Term loan facility and revolving credit facility expiry date	1-Nov-13

Debt_Additional_Information_1_

Debt - Additional Information 1 (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Minimum [Member] | Five-year tranche, One [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	2.50%
Minimum [Member] | Five-year tranche, Two [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	1.50%
Maximum [Member] | Five-year tranche, One [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	3.00%
Maximum [Member] | Five-year tranche, Two [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	2.00%
Term loan two [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Credit facility, description of loan	'A $50.0 million three-year term loan, interest at a floating rate equal to, at the Companybs option, either: (1) reserve adjusted LIBOR, plus a spread that ranges from 200 to 250 basis points, depending on the Companybs cash flow leverage ratio; or (2) Alternate Base Rate, plus a spread that ranges from 100 to 150 basis points, depending on the Companybs cash flow leverage ratio. Principal amortizes $0.6 million in 2012, $2.5 million in 2013, $2.8 million in 2014, $2.8 million in 2015 with the remaining principal due at the end of the term;
Debt instrument base rate period	'3 years
Provisions of debt obligation of term loan, One	50
Principal amount amortized, 2012	0.6
Principal amount amortized, 2013	2.5
Principal amount amortized, 2014	2.8
Principal amount amortized, 2015	2.8
Term loan two [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Five-year tranche, One [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	2.00%
Term loan two [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Five-year tranche, Two [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	1.00%
Term loan two [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Five-year tranche, One [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	2.50%
Term loan two [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Five-year tranche, Two [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	1.50%
Term loan one [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Credit facility, description of loan	'A $100.0 million five-year term loan, interest at a floating rate equal to, at the Companybs option, either: (1) reserve adjusted LIBOR, plus a spread that ranges from 250 to 300 basis points, depending on the Companybs cash flow leverage ratio; or (2) Alternate Base Rate, plus a spread that ranges from 150 to 200 basis points, depending on the Companybs cash flow leverage ratio. Principal amortizes $1.3 million in 2012, $5.0 million in 2013, $5.6 million in 2014, $8.1 million in 2015, $10.0 million in 2016 and $5.0 million in 2017 with the remaining principal due at the end of the term;
Debt instrument base rate period	'5 years
Provisions of debt obligation of term loan, One	100
Principal amount amortized, 2012	1.3
Principal amount amortized, 2013	5
Principal amount amortized, 2014	5.6
Principal amount amortized, 2015	8.1
Principal amount amortized, 2016	10
Principal amount amortized, 2017	5
Term loan one [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Five-year tranche, One [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	2.50%
Term loan one [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Five-year tranche, Two [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	1.50%
Term loan one [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Five-year tranche, One [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	3.00%
Term loan one [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Five-year tranche, Two [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	2.00%
Term loan three [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Credit facility, description of loan	'A $48.6 million six-month term loan, interest at a floating rate equal to, at the Company's option, either (1) reserve adjusted LIBOR, plus a spread that ranges from 250 to 300 basis points, depending on the Company's cash flow leverage ratio; or (2) Alternate Base Rate, plus a spread that ranges from 150 to 200 basis points, depending on the Company's cash flow leverage ratio. Principal amortizes in six equal monthly installments;
Debt instrument base rate period	'6 months
Provisions of debt obligation of term loan, One	48.6
Term loan three [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Five-year tranche, One [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	2.50%
Term loan three [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Five-year tranche, Two [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	1.50%
Term loan three [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Five-year tranche, One [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	3.00%
Term loan three [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Five-year tranche, Two [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Basis spread on variable rate for the five-year tranches, One	2.00%

Debt_Additional_Information_2_

Debt - Additional Information 2 (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Eligible estimated remaining collections for consumer receivables	'	'	55.00%	'
Total estimated remaining collections	'	'	35.00%	'
Borrowing base as percentage of eligible estimated collection range start	'	'	30.00%	'
Borrowing base as percentage of eligible estimated collection range end	'	'	35.00%	'
Percentage of eligible estimated remaining collections	'	'	33.00%	'
Percentage of multiplying factor	'	'	95.00%	'
Borrowing base description	'	'	'A borrowing base equal to (1) the lesser of (i) (a) 55% of eligible estimated remaining collections for consumer receivables subject to bankruptcy proceedings, provided that the amount described in this clause (i)(a) may not exceed 35% of the amount described in clauses (i)(a) and (i)(b), plus (b) 30%b35% (depending on the Companybs trailing 12-month cost per dollar collected) of all other eligible estimated remaining collections, initially set at 33%, and (ii) the product of the net book value of all receivable portfolios acquired on or after January 1, 2005 multiplied by 95%, minus (2) (x) the aggregate principal amount outstanding of the Prudential senior secured notes plus (y) the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the term loans	'
Allowance of additional unsecured indebtedness	'	'	$300	'
Company's repurchases, common stock	'	'	50	'
Cost of common stock shares repurchased	50	50	'	'
Repurchase of common stock	'	'	50	'
Percentage of acquisitions excluded	'	'	50.00%	'
Acquisition limit	'	'	100	'
Amount outstanding	'	'	$509.80	'
Revolving credit facility, interest rate	'	'	3.13%	4.13%

Debt_Additional_Information_3_

Debt - Additional Information 3 (Detail)

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 20, 2012

Aug. 02, 2013

Aug. 02, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 20, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 28, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2013

9-May-13

Sep. 09, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

2011 Senior Secured Notes [Member]

2010 Senior Secured Notes [Member]

Cabot 2019 Notes [Member]

Cabot 2020 Notes [Member]

Cabot 2020 Notes [Member]

J Bridge PECs [Member]

Cabot Credit Agreement [Member]

Cabot Credit Facility [Member]

Cabot Credit Facility [Member]

Cabot Corporation [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Propel facility [Member]

Propel TLT Facility [Member]

Propel TLT Facility [Member]

Propel TLC Facility [Member]

Propel TLC Facility [Member]

Propel TLC Facility [Member]

Propel TLC Facility [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

GBP (£)

USD ($)

GBP (£)

GBP (£)

GBP (£)

GBP (£)

GBP (£)

LIBOR [Member]

Prime Rate [Member]

LIBOR [Member]

Prime Rate [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

LIBOR [Member]

Maximum [Member]

USD ($)

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Senior Secured Notes

$62,500,000

'

'

$25,000,000

$50,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Senior Secured Notes, aggregate amount

75,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Senior Secured Notes, stated percentage

12.00%

'

'

7.38%

7.75%

10.38%

'

8.38%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Senior Secured Notes, periodic principal repayment

'

'

'

1,250,000

2,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Frequency of repayment, Senior Secured Notes

'

'

'

'Quarterly

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Senior Secured Notes, date of first required payment

'

'

'

1-May-13

1-Dec-12

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument maturity date

'

'

'

'2018

'2017

'2019

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument description of discount rate

'The discount rate used to determine the present value is 50 basis points over the then current Treasury Rate corresponding to the remaining average life

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Basis spread over the current Treasury Rate

0.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Financing acquisition through syndicated loan facility

613,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50,000,000

'

85,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

160,000,000

'

'

100,000,000

'

'

Debt instrument base rate period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'3 years

'

'

'4 years

'

'

'

Interest at Propel's option, Variable rate, plus a spread

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4.00%

'

'

3.00%

0.00%

3.75%

0.75%

'

'

'

'

'

3.25%

'

Borrowing base of the face value of the tax lien collateralized notes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

90.00%

'

'

'

'

'

Propel Facility, accordion feature

40,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amount outstanding

509,800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

131,300,000

'

'

'

'

27,000,000

Weighted average interest rate

3.13%

4.13%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.64%

3.54%

'

'

'

5.34%

Aggregate principal amount of senior notes

287,500,000

'

115,000,000

'

'

265,000,000

'

100,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument interest payment date

'

'

'

'

'

'Interest on the Cabot 2019 Notes is payable semi-annually, in arrears, on April 1 and October 1 of each year.

'Interest on the Cabot 2020 Notes is payable semi-annually, in arrears, on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning on February 1, 2014.

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt issuance cost

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Repayment of senior credit facility

491,462,000

163,048,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

75,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Repayment of J Bridge PECs

$39,743,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

£ 25,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maturity period of credit facility

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Credit facility expiry date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1-Sep-17

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

LTV ratio

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

75.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt_Additional_Information_4_

Debt - Additional Information 4 (Detail) (USD $)

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified

Aug. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Jul. 02, 2013

Jul. 02, 2013

Nov. 27, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Nov. 27, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jul. 18, 2013

Jun. 24, 2013

Jun. 24, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Janus Holdings [Member]

Cabot Credit Management [Member]

2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]

2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]

2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]

2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]

2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]

2020 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]

2020 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]

2020 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]

2020 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]

Computer equipment [Member]

Janus Holdings [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from issuance of additional convertible senior notes

'

'

$172,500,000

'

'

'

$100,000,000

$15,000,000

'

'

'

$22,500,000

$150,000,000

'

'

'

Interest rate of PEC

'

12.00%

12.00%

'

'

'

3.00%

'

3.00%

'

'

'

3.00%

3.00%

'

'

Maturity date of 3.0% convertible senior notes

'

'

'

'

'

'

27-Nov-17

'

'

'

'

'

1-Jul-20

'

'

'

Convertible senior notes outstanding

'

287,500,000

287,500,000

115,000,000

'

'

115,000,000

'

115,000,000

'

'

172,500,000

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument interest payment date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'Interest on the 2017 Convertible Notes is payable semi-annually, in arrears, on May 27 and November 27 of each year

'

'

'

'Interest on the 2020 Convertible Notes is payable semi-annually, in arrears, on January 1 and July 1 of each year

'

Initial conversion rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

31.6832

'

'

'

'

21.8718

'

'

Convertible senior notes, principal amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,000

'

1,000

'

'

'

1,000

1,000

'

'

Initial conversion price per share

'

'

'

'

'

'

$31.56

'

$31.56

$31.56

$31.56

'

$45.72

$45.72

'

'

Dilutive effect of convertible senior notes

'

805

298

'

'

'

'

'

'

800

300

'

'

'

'

'

Strike price of the Warrant Transactions per share

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$44.19

'

'

'

'

'

Effective conversion price of Notes per share

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$44.19

$44.19

'

'

'

'

'

Average share price of common stock

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$44.19

$44.19

'

'

'

'

'

Capped Call Transactions cost

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

18,100,000

'

Cap price of capped call transactions per share

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$61.55

'

Proceeds from sale of Notes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

167,400,000

'

Net proceeds used for payment of convertible note hedge transaction cost

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

18,100,000

'

Fair value of notes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

140,200,000

'

Residual value

'

46,954,000

46,954,000

14,702,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

32,300,000

'

Debt issuance cost

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,900,000

'

Initial debt issuance costs

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6,000,000

'

Equity issuance cost

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,100,000

'

Effective interest rate on the liability component

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6.00%

6.00%

'

'

'

6.35%

'

Percentage of equity interest acquired

'

'

'

'

'

50.10%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Minority interest percentage

'

'

'

'

49.90%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Repayment of J Bridge PECs

41,200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Preferred equity certificates

'

190,279,000

190,279,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Capital lease obligations

'

$6,920,000

$6,920,000

$9,252,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$6,900,000

Capital lease obligations, minimum percentage

'

'

0.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Capital lease obligations, maximum percentage

'

'

7.70%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt_Balances_of_the_Liability

Debt - Balances of the Liability and Equity Components (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Liability component-principal amount	$287,500	$115,000
Unamortized debt discount	-43,846	-14,442
Liability component-net carrying amount	243,654	100,558
Equity component	$46,954	$14,702

Debt_Interest_Expense_Detail

Debt - Interest Expense (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Convertible notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Interest expense - stated coupon rate	$2,141	$3,947
Interest expense - amortization/appreciation of debt discount/premium	1,570	2,887
Total interest expense - convertible notes	3,711	6,834
Cabot Senior Secured Notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Interest expense - stated coupon rate	12,857	'
Interest expense - amortization/appreciation of debt discount/premium	-1,367	'
Total interest expense - convertible notes	$11,490	'

Variable_Interest_Entity_Asset

Variable Interest Entity - Assets and Liabilities of Variable Interest Entity (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Assets	'		'	'		'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$110,156		'	$17,510		$19,263	'	$8,047
Investment in receivable portfolios, net	1,595,642		1,096,698	873,119		811,620	869,859	716,454
Property and equipment, net	50,050		'	23,223		'	'	'
Other assets	120,441		'	31,535		'	'	'
Goodwill	489,520		'	55,446		'	'	'
Total assets	2,591,003	[1]	'	1,171,340	[1]	'	'	'
Liabilities	'		'	'		'	'	'
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	106,632		'	45,450		'	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities, net	110,453		'	8,236		'	'	'
Debt	1,806,680		'	706,036		'	'	'
Other liabilities	6,967		'	5,802		'	'	'
Total liabilities	2,030,732	[1]	'	765,524	[1]	'	'	'
Janus Holdings [Member]	'		'	'		'	'	'
Assets	'		'	'		'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	54,584		'	'		'	'	'
Investment in receivable portfolios, net	596,160		'	'		'	'	'
Property and equipment, net	14,249		'	'		'	'	'
Other assets	32,102		'	'		'	'	'
Goodwill	369,912		'	'		'	'	'
Total assets	1,067,007		'	'		'	'	'
Liabilities	'		'	'		'	'	'
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	31,817		'	'		'	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities, net	6,978		'	'		'	'	'
Debt	825,524		'	'		'	'	'
Other liabilities	113		'	'		'	'	'
Total liabilities	$864,432		'	'		'	'	'
[1]	The Company's consolidated assets as of September 30, 2013 included $1,067,007 of assets from its variable interest entity, or VIE, that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIE. These assets include cash and cash equivalents of $54,584; investment in receivable portfolios, net, of $596,160; property and equipment, net, of $14,249; other assets of $32,102; and goodwill of $369,912. The Company's consolidated liabilities as of September 30, 2013, included $864,432 of liabilities of its VIE, whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities include accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $31,817; deferred tax liabilities of $6,978; debt of 825,524; and other liabilities of $113. See further details of the assets and liabilities of the Company's VIE in Note 12, "Variable Interest Entity."

Variable_Interest_Entity_Addit

Variable Interest Entity - Additional Information (Detail) (Cabot Credit Management [Member], Janus Holdings [Member])	Jul. 02, 2013
Cabot Credit Management [Member] | Janus Holdings [Member]	'
Variable Interest Entities Not Consolidated [Line Items]	'
Percentage of equity interest acquired	50.10%

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Provision for income taxes	$10,272,000	$13,887,000	$30,110,000	$38,393,000
Income tax holiday, description	'	'	'The Company's subsidiary in Costa Rica is operating under a 100% tax holiday through December 31, 2018 and a 50% tax holiday for the subsequent four years. The impact of the tax holiday in Costa Rica for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 was immaterial.	'
Unrecognized tax benefit	17,600,000	'	17,600,000	'
Net tax benefit from unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized	15,300,000	'	15,300,000	'
Increase in gross unrecognized tax benefit	2,200,000	'	2,200,000	'
Undistributed earnings	$1,500,000	'	$4,700,000	'

Income_Taxes_Schedule_of_Effec

Income Taxes -Schedule of Effective Tax Rates (Detail)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Federal provision	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State provision	5.20%	6.50%	5.20%	6.50%
State benefit	-1.80%	-2.30%	-1.80%	-2.30%
Changes in state apportionment	-4.00%	-0.50%	-1.70%	0.70%
Tax reserves	1.80%	0.00%	0.70%	0.00%
International provision	-4.80%	-0.50%	-2.00%	-0.60%
Permanent items	1.10%	1.30%	1.30%	0.40%
Effective rate	32.50%	39.50%	36.70%	39.70%

Purchase_Concentrations_Summar

Purchase Concentrations - Summary of Concentration of Initial Purchase Cost (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Purchase Concentrations [Line Items]	'
Total purchases	$1,099,736
Percentage of purchase concentration	100.00%
Cabot Acquisition [Member]	'
Purchase Concentrations [Line Items]	'
Purchases, gross	558,951
Percentage of purchase concentration	50.80%
AACC Merger [Member]	'
Purchase Concentrations [Line Items]	'
Purchases, gross	381,233
Percentage of purchase concentration	34.70%
Seller 1 [Member]	'
Purchase Concentrations [Line Items]	'
Purchases, gross	24,610
Percentage of purchase concentration	2.20%
Seller 2 [Member]	'
Purchase Concentrations [Line Items]	'
Purchases, gross	24,067
Percentage of purchase concentration	2.20%
Seller 3 [Member]	'
Purchase Concentrations [Line Items]	'
Purchases, gross	17,151
Percentage of purchase concentration	1.60%
Other sellers [Member]	'
Purchase Concentrations [Line Items]	'
Purchases, gross	$93,724
Percentage of purchase concentration	8.50%

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]	'
Material reserves for litigation	$0
Purchase price of receivable portfolios	562,800,000
Purchase price	58,500,000
Purchase commitments beyond December, 2014	0
Maximum [Member]	'
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]	'
Attorneys' fees and costs	$550,000

Segment_Information_Additional

Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
	Segment
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'		'
Number of reportable segments	2		'
Assets	$2,591,003	[1]	$1,171,340	[1]
Portfolio Purchasing and Recovery [Member]	'		'
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'		'
Assets	2,300,000		'
Tax Lien Business [Member]	'		'
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'		'
Assets	$237,300		'
[1]	The Company's consolidated assets as of September 30, 2013 included $1,067,007 of assets from its variable interest entity, or VIE, that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIE. These assets include cash and cash equivalents of $54,584; investment in receivable portfolios, net, of $596,160; property and equipment, net, of $14,249; other assets of $32,102; and goodwill of $369,912. The Company's consolidated liabilities as of September 30, 2013, included $864,432 of liabilities of its VIE, whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities include accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $31,817; deferred tax liabilities of $6,978; debt of 825,524; and other liabilities of $113. See further details of the assets and liabilities of the Company's VIE in Note 12, "Variable Interest Entity."

Segment_Information_Reconcilia

Segment Information - Reconciliation of Revenue and Operating Income from Segments to Consolidated (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$235,558	$145,218	$536,265	$412,874
Depreciation and amortization	-4,523	-1,533	-8,527	-4,193
Stock-based compensation	-3,983	-1,905	-9,163	-6,710
Other expense	-29,485	-6,402	-47,784	-18,253
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	31,644	35,195	81,942	96,797
Operating Segments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	235,558	145,218	536,265	412,874
Operating income loss before depreciation and amortization	69,635	45,035	147,416	125,953
Operating Segments [Member] | Portfolio Purchasing and Recovery [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	230,885	140,682	523,659	405,818
Operating income loss before depreciation and amortization	67,803	42,980	143,961	123,079
Operating Segments [Member] | Tax Lien Business [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	4,673	4,536	12,606	7,056
Operating income loss before depreciation and amortization	$1,832	$2,055	$3,455	$2,874

Segment_Information_Schedule_o

Segment Information - Schedule of Geographical Areas of Which Company Operates (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$235,558	$145,218	$536,265	$412,874
Reportable Geographical Components [Member] | United States [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	189,086	145,218	489,793	412,874
Reportable Geographical Components [Member] | United Kingdom [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$46,472	'	$46,472	'

Goodwill_and_Identifiable_Inta2

Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
	Segment
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Reporting units	2

Goodwill_and_Identifiable_Inta3

Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets - Summary of Acquired Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	$9,051	$570
Accumulated Amortization	-532	-83
Net Carrying Amount	8,519	487
Goodwill	489,520	55,446
Customer relationships [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	1,494	570
Accumulated Amortization	-42	-83
Net Carrying Amount	1,452	487
Developed technologies [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	4,681	'
Accumulated Amortization	-234	'
Net Carrying Amount	4,447	'
Trade name and other [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	2,876	'
Accumulated Amortization	-256	'
Net Carrying Amount	2,620	'
Goodwill - portfolio purchasing and recovery [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Goodwill	444,130	6,047
Goodwill - tax lien business [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Goodwill	45,390	49,399
Other intangibles [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Goodwill	$1,962	'

Goodwill_and_Identifiable_Inta4

Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets - Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill by Reporting Unit (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			Tax Lien Business [Member]	Portfolio Purchasing and Recovery [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Balance, December 31, 2012	$489,520	$55,446	$49,399	$6,047
Goodwill acquired	'	'	'	419,969
Goodwill adjustment	'	'	-4,009	-180
Effect of foreign currency translation	'	'	'	18,294
Balance, September 30, 2013	$489,520	$55,446	$45,390	$444,130

Goodwill_and_Identifiable_Inta5

Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets - Schedule of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill by Reporting Unit (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Adjustment to initial purchase price allocation	$4,000,000
Tax Lien Business [Member]	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'
Goodwill adjustment	($4,009,000)