Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net - Summary of Accretable Yield and an Estimate of Zero Basis Future Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Investment in Receivables Portfolio [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 3,059,713	$ 2,399,936
Revenue recognized, net	(264,110)	(237,568)
Net additions on existing portfolios	160,336	100,880
Additions for current purchases	85,692	591,205
Balance at end of period	3,041,631	2,854,453
Accretable Yield [Member]
Investment in Receivables Portfolio [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	2,993,321	2,391,471
Revenue recognized, net	(248,539)	(231,057)
Net additions on existing portfolios	120,729	92,325
Additions for current purchases	85,692	591,205
Balance at end of period	2,951,203	2,843,944
Estimate of Zero Basis Cash Flows [Member]
Investment in Receivables Portfolio [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	66,392	8,465
Revenue recognized, net	(15,571)	(6,511)
Net additions on existing portfolios	39,607	8,555
Additions for current purchases	0	0
Balance at end of period	$ 90,428	$ 10,509

Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Additions For Current Purchases Accretable Yield

No definition available.

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- Definition

Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Net Additions To Existing Portfolios Accretable Yield

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of the excess of a loan's cash flows expected to be collected over the investor's initial investment in acquired loans not accounted for as debt securities with evidence of deterioration of credit quality.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 30

-Section 15

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27045933&loc=d3e13503-111538

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544

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- Definition

Amount of decrease from accretion of the excess of a loan's cash flows expected to be collected over the investor's initial investment in acquired loans not accounted for as debt securities with evidence of deterioration of credit quality.

+ References

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