Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Revenues
Revenue from receivable portfolios, net	$ 251,785	$ 225,387	$ 737,584	$ 518,094
Other revenues	13,445	5,792	38,943	6,473
Net interest income	8,052	4,379	19,691	11,698
Total revenues	273,282	235,558	796,218	536,265
Operating expenses
Salaries and employee benefits	61,175	52,253	183,667	114,054
Cost of legal collections	53,742	50,953	153,596	137,694
Other operating expenses	22,061	19,056	72,196	46,118
Collection agency commissions	9,517	14,158	25,275	22,717
General and administrative expenses	35,532	33,486	110,508	77,429
Depreciation and amortization	6,933	4,523	19,879	8,527
Total operating expenses	188,960	174,429	565,121	406,539
Income from operations	84,322	61,129	231,097	129,726
Other expense
Interest expense	(43,498)	(29,186)	(124,678)	(43,522)
Other expense	(532)	(299)	(192)	(4,262)
Total other expense	(44,030)	(29,485)	(124,870)	(47,784)
Income before income taxes	40,292	31,644	106,227	81,942
Provision for income taxes	(10,154)	(10,272)	(35,906)	(30,110)
Income from continuing operations	30,138	21,372	70,321	51,832
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(308)	0	(308)
Net income	30,138	21,064	70,321	51,524
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	197	822	6,755	822
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	30,335	21,886	77,076	52,346
Income from continuing operations	30,335	22,194	77,076	52,654
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 0	$ (308)	$ 0	$ (308)
Basic earnings (loss) per share from:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.17	$ 0.87	$ 2.99	$ 2.16
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.17	$ 0.86	$ 2.99	$ 2.15
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.11	$ 0.82	$ 2.79	$ 2.06
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.11	$ 0.81	$ 2.79	$ 2.05
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	25,879	25,535	25,811	24,323
Diluted (in shares)	27,332	27,183	27,622	25,561