Additional Loan Amount Drawn

No definition available.

Name:	ecpg_AdditionalLoanAmountDrawn
Namespace Prefix:	ecpg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Borrowing base of the face value of the tax lien collateralized notes.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ecpg_BorrowingBaseOfFaceValueOfTaxLienCollateralizedNotes
Namespace Prefix:	ecpg_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Period Subsequent to Draw Period, Disallowed Draw Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ecpg_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Property Tax Payment Agreements Receivable, Net

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ecpg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Property Tax Payment Agreements Receivable, Principal Balance

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ecpg_PropertyTaxPaymentAgreementsReceivablePrincipalBalance
Namespace Prefix:	ecpg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of assets pledged to secure a debt instrument.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The average effective interest rate during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 20, 22
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Including both current and noncurrent portions, carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of other forms of debt not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 20, 22
-Article 5

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Debt - Propel (Details) - USD ($)				12 Months Ended
Debt - Propel (Details) - USD ($)	Oct. 26, 2015	Jul. 09, 2015	May. 18, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	May. 08, 2015	May. 06, 2014	May. 02, 2014	May. 15, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, outstanding amount				$ 627,000,000	$ 505,000,000
Weighted average interest rate				3.17%	2.93%
Term loan, face amount				$ 448,500,000	$ 448,500,000
Receivables secured by property tax liens, net				306,380,000	259,432,000
Term loan facility				83,342,000	38,785,000
Propel Term Loan Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term loan, face amount								$ 31,900,000.0
Receivables secured by property tax liens, net								$ 43,000,000
Secured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term loan facility				59,996,000	$ 104,247,000
Securitized notes, collateral amount				81,100,000
Texas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate							1.44%
Receivables secured by property tax liens, net							$ 141,500,000
Receivables secured by property tax liens, principal balance							$ 134,000,000
Propel Facility I [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity						$ 80,000,000.0
Borrowing base of the face value of the tax lien collateralized notes						90.00%
Credit facility, outstanding amount				$ 63,000,000
Weighted average interest rate				3.26%	3.33%
Propel Facility I [Member] \| LIBOR [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			2.70%
Propel Facility I [Member] \| LIBOR [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			3.20%
Propel Wells Fargo Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, outstanding amount				$ 107,900,000
Propel Facility II, Amended [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 150,000,000.0								$ 100,000,000.0
Additional draws				$ 0
Propel Facility II [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate				2.62%	3.85%
Propel Facility II [Member] \| LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.25%
Propel Facility II [Member] \| LIBOR [Member] \| Following Expiration Date [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.25%
Debt instrument, interest rate	4.00%
Accordion Feature [Member] \| Propel Facility I [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity						$ 20,000,000.0
Propel Facility II [Member] \| Propel [Member] \| Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Period subsequent to draw period where draws are disallowed	2 years
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 742,600,000.0
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			100.00%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| LIBOR [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		2.50%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| LIBOR [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		3.00%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Federal Funds Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			50.00%