Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 109,736	$ 78,978	$ 16,817
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	199	2,353
Interest expense related to financing	11,710	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	41,228	39,977	34,868
Other non-cash expense, net	20,744	39,591	30,623
Stock-based compensation expense	12,980	10,399	12,627
Loss (gain) on derivative instruments, net	10,789	(3,915)	(7,816)
Deferred income taxes	16,814	28,970	(52,905)
(Reversal of) provision for allowances on receivable portfolios, net	(41,473)	(41,236)	84,177
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Deferred court costs and other assets	(35,626)	(4,101)	(20,364)
Prepaid income tax and income taxes payable	24,284	(26,699)	25,417
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities	15,605	1,655	2,439
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations	186,791	123,818	128,236
Net cash provided by operating activities from discontinued operations	0	0	2,096
Net cash provided by operating activities	186,791	123,818	130,332
Investing activities:
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	(96,390)	(675)
Proceeds from divestiture of business, net of cash divested	(1,877)	0	106,041
Purchases of assets held for sale	0	0	(19,874)
Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of put-backs	(1,131,095)	(1,045,829)	(907,413)
Collections applied to investment in receivable portfolios, net	809,688	709,420	659,321
Purchases of property and equipment	(67,475)	(28,126)	(31,668)
(Payment of) proceeds from derivative instruments, net	(18,302)	3,533	8,800
Other, net	11,545	5,261	1,994
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations	(397,516)	(452,131)	(183,474)
Net cash provided by investing activities from discontinued operations	0	0	14,685
Net cash used in investing activities	(397,516)	(452,131)	(168,789)
Financing activities:
Payment of loan costs	(11,576)	(28,972)	(32,338)
Payment related to debt financing	(11,710)	0	0
Repayment of credit facilities	942,186	1,434,480	586,016
Repayment of credit facilities	(571,144)	(1,168,069)	(615,857)
Proceeds from senior secured notes	0	325,000	442,610
Repayment of senior secured notes	(91,578)	(204,241)	(352,549)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible and exchangeable senior notes	172,500	150,000	0
Repayment of convertible senior notes	0	(125,407)	0
Proceeds from other debt	27,694	33,197	36,172
Repayment of other debt	(42,456)	(8,910)	(15,388)
Payment for the purchase of PECs and noncontrolling interest	(234,101)	(29,731)	(4,842)
Payment of direct and incremental costs relating to Cabot Transaction	(8,622)	0	0
Other, net	(4,816)	870	(571)
Net cash provided by financing activities	166,377	378,217	43,253
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(44,348)	49,904	4,796
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(10,373)	12,470	(8,624)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	212,139	149,765	153,593
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	157,418	212,139	149,765
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations, end of period	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations, end of period	157,418	212,139	149,765
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	198,797	162,545	147,899
Cash paid for income taxes, net	30,247	44,365	60,071
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Stock consideration for the Cabot Transaction	180,559	0	0
Conversion of convertible senior notes	0	28,277	0
Fixed assets acquired through capital lease	$ 3,283	$ 3,577	$ 55