Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 157,418	$ 212,139
Investment in receivable portfolios, net	3,137,893	2,890,613
Deferred court costs, net	95,918	79,963
Property and equipment, net	115,518	76,276
Other assets	257,002	302,728
Goodwill	868,126	928,993
Total assets	4,631,875	4,490,712
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	287,945	284,774
Debt, net	3,490,633	3,446,876
Other liabilities	33,609	35,151
Total liabilities	3,812,187	3,766,801
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	151,978
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, 30,884 shares and 25,801 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively	309	258
Additional paid-in capital	208,498	42,646
Accumulated earnings	720,189	616,314
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(110,987)	(77,356)
Total Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity	818,009	581,862
Noncontrolling interest	1,679	(9,929)
Total equity	819,688	571,933
Total liabilities, redeemable equity and equity	4,631,875	4,490,712
VIEs
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	448	88,902
Investment in receivable portfolios, net	501,489	1,342,300
Deferred court costs, net	0	26,482
Property and equipment, net	0	23,138
Other assets	9,563	122,263
Goodwill	0	724,054
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	4,556	151,208
Debt, net	445,837	2,014,202
Other liabilities	$ 46	$ 1,494