Discontinued Operations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
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12 Months Ended |
0 Months Ended |
3 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2012
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May 16, 2012
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Jun. 30, 2012
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Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |
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Loss on lease termination |
$ 0us-gaap_LossOnContractTermination |
$ 3,630,000us-gaap_LossOnContractTermination |
$ 0us-gaap_LossOnContractTermination |
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Loss on discontinued operations |
0us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax |
0us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax |
(1,830,000)us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax |
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Ascension Capital Group, Inc. [Member] |
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Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |
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Additional recognition of loss contingency |
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4,000,000ecpg_MaximumOperatingProfitOfDiscontinuedBusinessToBeCovered / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = ecpg_AscensionCapitalGroupInc.Member |
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Earn-out on profitability following sale of discontinued operations |
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40.00%ecpg_EarnoutonProfitabilityFollowingSaleofDiscontinuedOperations / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = ecpg_AscensionCapitalGroupInc.Member |
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Earn-out on profitability following sale of discontinued operations, term |
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5 years |
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Recognized loss contingency |
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4,000,000us-gaap_LossContingencyLossInPeriod / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = ecpg_AscensionCapitalGroupInc.Member |
Gain (loss) incurred to resolve legacy contractual claims |
(2,800,000)us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = ecpg_AscensionCapitalGroupInc.Member |
(2,200,000)us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = ecpg_AscensionCapitalGroupInc.Member |
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Additional loss incurred |
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700,000ecpg_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationAccruedLossOnContract / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = ecpg_AscensionCapitalGroupInc.Member |
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Loss on lease termination |
600,000us-gaap_LossOnContractTermination / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = ecpg_AscensionCapitalGroupInc.Member |
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Loss on discontinued operations |
$ (2,200,000)us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = ecpg_AscensionCapitalGroupInc.Member |
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