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Ownership, Description of Business, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Percentage of payment made for portfolios purchase 50.00%ecpg_PercentageOfPaymentsMadeForPortfolioPurchase  
Net cash flows provided by operating activities $ 19,390us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations $ 12,151us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations
Net cash flows provided by financing activities (12,273)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations 406,111us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations
As previously reported [Member]    
Net cash flows provided by operating activities   (2,591)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember
Net cash flows provided by financing activities   420,853us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioPreviouslyReportedMember
Impact of reclassification [Member]    
Net cash flows provided by operating activities   14,742us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_RestatementAdjustmentMember
Net cash flows provided by financing activities   $ (14,742)us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_RestatementAdjustmentMember