Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 146,647	$ 149,765
Investment in receivable portfolios, net	2,555,925	2,382,809
Property and equipment, net	71,135	72,257
Deferred court costs, net	74,316	65,187
Other assets	239,218	215,447
Goodwill	831,556	785,032
Total assets	3,918,797	3,670,497
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	256,982	234,398
Debt	2,963,929	2,805,983
Other liabilities	29,776	29,601
Total liabilities	3,250,687	3,069,982
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	126,215	45,755
Redeemable equity component of convertible senior notes	192	2,995
Equity:
Convertible preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding	0	0
Common stock, $.01 par value, 50,000 shares authorized, 25,741 shares and 25,593 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	257	256
Additional paid-in capital	43,076	103,392
Accumulated earnings	593,290	560,567
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(83,110)	(104,911)
Total Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity	553,513	559,304
Noncontrolling interest	(11,810)	(7,539)
Total equity	541,703	551,765
Total liabilities, redeemable equity and equity	3,918,797	3,670,497
Variable Interest Entities
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	43,077	55,823
Investment in receivable portfolios, net	1,103,135	972,841
Property and equipment, net	19,843	19,284
Deferred court costs, net	25,049	22,760
Other assets	91,179	79,767
Goodwill	628,849	584,868
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	117,645	99,689
Debt	1,666,962	1,514,799
Other liabilities	$ 618	$ 1,921