Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Revenues
Revenue from receivable portfolios	$ 357,365	$ 311,158
Changes in expected current and future recoveries	(98,661)	0
Servicing revenue	28,680	34,023
Other revenues	1,697	529
Total revenues	289,081	345,710
Allowance reversals on receivable portfolios, net	0	1,367
Total revenues, adjusted by net allowances	289,081	347,077
Operating expenses
Salaries and employee benefits	93,098	91,834
Cost of legal collections	66,279	49,027
Other operating expenses	27,164	29,614
Collection agency commissions	13,176	16,002
General and administrative expenses	31,877	39,547
Depreciation and amortization	10,285	9,995
Total operating expenses	241,879	236,019
Income from operations	47,202	111,058
Other (expense) income
Interest expense	(54,662)	(54,967)
Other income (expense)	1,439	(2,976)
Total other expense	(53,223)	(57,943)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(6,021)	53,115
Provision for income taxes	(4,558)	(3,673)
Net (loss) income	(10,579)	49,442
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	125	(188)
Net (loss) income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	$ (10,454)	$ 49,254
(Loss) earnings per share attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc.:
Basic (USD per share)	$ (0.33)	$ 1.58
Diluted (USD per share)	$ (0.33)	$ 1.57
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (shares)	31,308	31,201
Diluted (shares)	31,308	31,359