Credit Facility, Estimated Remaining Collections, Maximum Term

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	ecpg_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument Additional Facility Face Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Debt Instrument Basis Spread On Variable Rate Increase Interval Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ecpg_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateIncreaseIntervalPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	ecpg_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument Term Extension Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ecpg_DebtInstrumentTermExtensionPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	ecpg_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum Loan To Value Ratio

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- 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

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, 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_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of debt issuance costs (for example, but not limited to, legal, accounting, broker, and regulatory fees).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtIssuanceCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ 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 SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: 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)

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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date the credit facility terminates, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ 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 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-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 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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

Name:	us-gaap_SeniorNotes
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Debt - Cabot Senior Revolving Credit Facility and Senior Secured Bridge Facilities (Detail)	9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended				9 Months Ended						0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Mar. 27, 2014 Cabot 2021 Notes [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 27, 2014 Cabot 2021 Notes [Member] GBP (£)	Sep. 20, 2012 Cabot Credit Agreement [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 20, 2012 Cabot Credit Agreement [Member] GBP (£)	Sep. 30, 2014 Cabot Credit Facility [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Cabot Credit Facility [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 28, 2013 Cabot Credit Facility [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 28, 2013 Cabot Credit Facility [Member] GBP (£)	Feb. 07, 2014 Bridge Facilitya [Member] GBP (£)	Feb. 07, 2014 Bridge Facilityb [Member] GBP (£)	Feb. 07, 2014 Bridge Facility [Member] GBP (£)	Sep. 30, 2014 Bridge Facility [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 LIBOR [Member] Cabot Credit Facility [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Quarter To Date [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Quarter To Date [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Quarter To Date [Member] Cabot Credit Facility [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Quarter To Date [Member] Cabot Credit Facility [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Year To Date [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Year To Date [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Year To Date [Member] Cabot Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility					$ 82,700,000	£ 50,000,000.0			$ 140,600,000	£ 85,000,000.0	£ 105,000,000	£ 151,500,000
Debt instrument, term							5 years						1 year
Line of credit facility expiry date							Sep. 01, 2017
Basis spread on variable rate													6.00%		4.00%
Credit Facility, Estimated Remaining Collections, Maximum Term															84 months
Maximum Loan To Value Ratio							0.75%
Credit facility, outstanding amount	429,000,000	356,000,000					92,434,000	0
Weighted average interest rate																2.95%	3.07%	4.55%	4.24%	2.92%	3.13%	4.36%
Encore senior secured notes	47,500,000	58,750,000	291,800,000	175,000,000.0
Debt Instrument Additional Facility Face Amount													80,000,000
Debt Instrument Term Extension Period													6 years 6 months
Basis spread over the current Treasury Rate	0.50%												0.50%
Debt Instrument Basis Spread On Variable Rate Increase Interval Period													3 months
Debt issuance cost			$ 7,500,000											$ 2,000,000