Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net - Summary of Changes in Balance of Investment in Receivable Portfolios (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Investment in Receivables Portfolio [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 2,440,669	$ 2,143,560
Purchases of receivable portfolios	256,753	125,154
Gross collections	(447,805)	(425,071)
Put-backs and Recalls	(12,993)	(2,563)
Foreign currency adjustments	(19,740)	(66,783)
Revenue recognized	267,903	261,251
Portfolio (allowance) reversals, net	2,191	2,859
Balance, end of period	$ 2,486,978	$ 2,038,407
Revenue as a percentage of collections	59.80%	61.50%
Accrual Basis Portfolios [Member]
Investment in Receivables Portfolio [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 2,436,054	$ 2,131,084
Purchases of receivable portfolios	256,753	125,154
Gross collections	(415,727)	(407,556)
Put-backs and Recalls	(12,885)	(2,517)
Foreign currency adjustments	(19,887)	(65,369)
Revenue recognized	238,078	248,539
Portfolio (allowance) reversals, net	469	0
Balance, end of period	$ 2,482,855	$ 2,029,335
Revenue as a percentage of collections	57.30%	61.00%
Cost Recovery Portfolios [Member]
Investment in Receivables Portfolio [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 4,615	$ 12,476
Purchases of receivable portfolios	0	0
Gross collections	(633)	(1,972)
Put-backs and Recalls	(6)	(18)
Foreign currency adjustments	147	(1,414)
Revenue recognized	0	0
Portfolio (allowance) reversals, net	0	0
Balance, end of period	$ 4,123	$ 9,072
Revenue as a percentage of collections	0.00%	0.00%
Zero Basis Portfolios [Member]
Investment in Receivables Portfolio [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 0	$ 0
Purchases of receivable portfolios	0	0
Gross collections	(31,445)	(15,543)
Put-backs and Recalls	(102)	(28)
Foreign currency adjustments	0	0
Revenue recognized	29,825	12,712
Portfolio (allowance) reversals, net	1,722	2,859
Balance, end of period	$ 0	$ 0
Revenue as a percentage of collections	94.80%	81.80%