Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 175,220	$ 124,163
Investment in receivable portfolios, net	2,323,224	2,143,560
Receivables secured by property tax liens, net	297,592	259,432
Property and equipment, net	63,042	66,969
Deferred court costs, net	74,054	60,412
Other assets	229,697	197,666
Goodwill	940,181	897,933
Total assets	4,103,010	3,750,135
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	239,151	231,967
Debt	3,116,444	2,773,554
Other liabilities	87,735	79,675
Total liabilities	$ 3,443,330	$ 3,085,196
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	$ 26,934	$ 28,885
Redeemable equity component of convertible senior notes	6,881	9,073
Equity:
Convertible preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding	0	0
Common stock, $.01 par value, 50,000 shares authorized, 25,274 shares and 25,794 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	253	258
Additional paid-in capital	106,454	125,310
Accumulated earnings	544,477	498,354
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(29,279)	(922)
Total Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity	621,905	623,000
Noncontrolling interest	3,960	3,981
Total equity	625,865	626,981
Total liabilities, redeemable equity and equity	4,103,010	3,750,135
Variable Interest Entities [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	69,463	44,996
Investment in receivable portfolios, net	1,194,341	993,462
Receivables secured by property tax liens, net	88,206	108,535
Property and equipment, net	18,524	15,957
Deferred court costs, net	32,244	17,317
Other assets	43,733	80,264
Goodwill	715,877	671,434
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	105,904	137,201
Debt	1,773,831	1,556,956
Other liabilities	$ 21,411	$ 8,724