Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 16,817	$ 47,384	$ 98,278
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	2,353	23,387	(6,816)
Depreciation and amortization	34,868	33,160	27,100
Other non-cash expense, net	30,623	35,104	27,660
Stock-based compensation expense	12,627	22,008	17,181
Gain on derivative instruments, net	(7,816)	0	0
Deferred income taxes	(52,905)	(16,665)	(48,078)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payment arrangements	0	(1,724)	(11,928)
Provision for (reversal of) allowances on receivable portfolios, net	84,177	(6,763)	(17,407)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Deferred court costs and other assets	(20,364)	(33,430)	(11,282)
Prepaid income tax and income taxes payable	25,417	(29,504)	22,180
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities	2,439	43,135	9,832
Net cash provided by operating activities	128,236	116,092	106,720
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from discontinued operations	2,096	(1,667)	4,824
Net cash provided by operating activities	130,332	114,425	111,544
Investing activities:
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(675)	(276,575)	(446,165)
Proceeds from divestiture of business, net of cash divested	106,041	0	0
Payments to Acquire Assets Held-for-Sale	(19,874)	0	0
Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of put-backs	(907,413)	(749,760)	(862,997)
Collections applied to investment in receivable portfolios, net	659,321	635,899	633,960
Purchases of property and equipment	(31,668)	(28,624)	(23,084)
Proceeds from derivative instruments, net	8,800	0	0
Other, net	1,994	(1,233)	(5,102)
Net cash used in investing activities	(183,474)	(420,293)	(703,388)
Net cash provided by (used in) used in investing activities from discontinued operations	14,685	(52,416)	(51,809)
Net cash used in investing activities	(168,789)	(472,709)	(755,197)
Financing activities:
Payment of loan costs	(32,338)	(17,995)	(20,101)
Proceeds from credit facilities	586,016	1,084,393	1,343,417
Repayment of credit facilities	(615,857)	(898,086)	(1,184,244)
Proceeds from senior secured notes	442,610	332,693	288,645
Repayment of senior secured notes	(352,549)	(15,000)	(15,000)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes	0	0	161,000
Proceeds from issuance of securitized notes	0	0	134,000
Repayment of securitized notes	(935)	(44,251)	(29,753)
Purchases of convertible hedge instruments	0	0	(33,576)
Repurchase of common stock	0	(33,185)	(16,815)
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards	(4,829)	(6,289)	(20,324)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payment arrangements	0	1,724	11,928
Proceeds from other debt	36,172	0	0
Other, net	(15,037)	(2,159)	7,146
Net cash provided by financing activities	43,253	401,845	626,323
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	4,796	43,561	(17,330)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(8,624)	(14,131)	15,280
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	153,593	124,163	126,213
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	149,765	153,593	124,163
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations, end of period	0	29,600	32,644
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations, end of period	149,765	123,993	91,519
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	147,899	151,946	95,034
Cash paid for income taxes, net	60,071	84,101	69,948
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Fixed assets acquired through capital lease	$ 55	$ 2,220	$ 8,341