Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			12 Months Ended
	Aug. 06, 2014	Feb. 07, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Purchase price of receivable portfolios			$ 1,023,722	$ 1,251,360	$ 1,204,779
Face value of receivable portfolios			$ 12,700,000	$ 13,800,000
Purchase cost as a percentage of face value			8.00%	9.10%
Estimated future collections at acquisition for receivable portfolios			$ 2,500,000	$ 2,800,000
Zero Basis Revenue			96,400	$ 22,300	$ 17,200
dlc [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Investment in receivable portfolios			216,000
Baycorp [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Investment in receivable portfolios			$ 60,300
Marlin [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Purchase price of receivable portfolios		$ 208,500
Investment in receivable portfolios		$ 208,450
Atlantic Credit & Finance [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Purchase price of receivable portfolios	$ 105,400