Debt Instrument Maturity Year

No definition available.

Name:	ecpg_DebtInstrumentMaturityYear
Namespace Prefix:	ecpg_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reclassifications of Permanent to Temporary Equity, Debt Conversion

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ecpg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Senior Notes Original Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ecpg_SeniorNotesOriginalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	ecpg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Senior secured notes present value inputs discount rate spread.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ecpg_SeniorSecuredNotesPresentValueInputsDiscountRateSpread
Namespace Prefix:	ecpg_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The price per share of the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928298&loc=SL6031898-161870

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Threshold period of specified consecutive trading days within which common stock price to conversion price of convertible debt instruments must exceed threshold percentage for a specified number of trading days to trigger conversion feature, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleThresholdConsecutiveTradingDays
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum percentage of common stock price to conversion price of convertible debt instruments to determine eligibility of conversion.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleThresholdPercentageOfStockPriceTrigger
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Threshold number of specified trading days that common stock price to conversion price of convertible debt instruments must exceed threshold percentage within a specified consecutive trading period to trigger conversion feature.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleThresholdTradingDays
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the required periodic payments applied to principal.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of convertible debt securities using the if-converted method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 260

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 260

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 40

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7655603&loc=d3e1930-109256

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value portion of notes payable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20,22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

+ Details

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Debt - Encore Senior Secured and Convertible Senior Notes (Detail) (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 2021 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Mar. 05, 2014 2021 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 2011 Senior Secured Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 2010 Senior Secured Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member] D	Sep. 30, 2013 2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Nov. 27, 2012 2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 2020 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Jun. 24, 2013 2020 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Hedging of Convertible Debt Instrument [Member] 2021 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Hedging of Convertible Debt Instrument [Member] 2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Dec. 16, 2013 Hedging of Convertible Debt Instrument [Member] 2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Nov. 27, 2012 Hedging of Convertible Debt Instrument [Member] 2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Hedging of Convertible Debt Instrument [Member] 2020 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Convertible Notes [Member] 2021 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Convertible Notes [Member] 2017 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]	Jul. 31, 2014 Convertible Notes [Member] 2020 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior secured notes, aggregate amount	$ 75,000,000		$ 75,000,000					$ 25,000,000	$ 50,000,000
Debt instrument, stated interest rate						2.875%		7.375%	7.75%	3.00%			3.00%			3.00%							2.875%	3.00%	3.00%
Debt instrument maturity date								2018	2017
Senior secured notes, periodic principal repayment								1,250,000	2,500,000
Senior Notes	47,500,000		47,500,000		58,750,000
Basis spread over the current Treasury Rate			0.50%
Debt instrument, face amount																							161,000,000	115,000,000	172,500,000
Initial conversion price						$ 59.39	$ 59.39			$ 31.56			$ 31.56		$ 31.56	$ 45.72	$ 45.72	$ 83.14	$ 60.00	$ 60.00	$ 44.19	$ 61.55
Event of early conversion, percentage of conversion price											130.00%
Event of early conversion, period stock price exceeds conversion price, trading days (more than)											20
Event of early conversion, term prior to period end stock price exceeds conversion price, consecutive trading days											30 days
Fair value of notes										185,000,000			185,000,000
Redeemable equity component of convertible senior notes			$ 9,800,000
Dilutive effect of convertible senior notes (in shares) (less than 0.1 million)	1,043	805	1,118	298						1,000		800	1,100	300