Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 5,494	$ 45,788
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	1,352	(5,827)
Depreciation and amortization	26,128	24,058
Non-cash interest expense, net	28,557	25,529
Stock-based compensation expense	9,502	17,259
Gain on derivative instruments, net	(10,885)	0
Deferred income taxes	(46,524)	(257)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payment arrangements	0	(1,705)
Loss on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	1,830	0
Provision for (reversal of) allowances on receivable portfolios, net	86,777	(3,958)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Deferred court costs and other assets	7,572	(31,347)
Prepaid income tax and income taxes payable	(2,485)	(49,431)
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities	(24,146)	38,364
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations	83,172	58,473
Net cash provided by operating activities from discontinued operations	2,096	4,908
Net cash provided by operating activities	85,268	63,381
Investing activities:
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(675)	(236,214)
Proceeds from divestiture of business, net of cash divested	106,041	0
Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of put-backs	(712,706)	(549,957)
Collections applied to investment in receivable portfolios, net	507,552	488,174
Purchases of property and equipment	(16,548)	(15,754)
Proceeds from derivative instruments, net	10,038	0
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations	(106,298)	(313,751)
Net cash provided by (used in) used in investing activities from discontinued operations	14,685	(41,154)
Net cash used in investing activities	(91,613)	(354,905)
Financing activities:
Payment of loan costs	(3,750)	(7,316)
Proceeds from credit facilities	455,786	911,588
Repayment of credit facilities	(443,968)	(471,610)
Repayment of senior secured notes	(14,343)	(11,250)
Repayment of securitized notes	(935)	(32,324)
Repurchase of common stock	0	(33,185)
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards	(4,113)	(6,050)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payment arrangements	0	1,705
Proceeds from other debt	35,080	0
Other, net	(10,070)	(5,703)
Net cash provided by financing activities	13,687	345,855
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	7,342	54,331
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(3,263)	(3,274)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	153,593	124,163
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	157,672	175,220
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations, end of period	0	31,825
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations, end of period	$ 157,672	$ 143,395