Debt Instrument, Convertible, Carrying Amount of Debt Component

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	ecpg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of decrease in additional paid in capital (APIC) resulting from direct costs associated with issuing stock. Includes, but is not limited to, legal and accounting fees and direct costs associated with stock issues under a shelf registration.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
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-Publisher FASB
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount of the equity component of convertible debt which may be settled in cash upon conversion.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109500613&loc=SL6031897-161870

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28551-108399

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+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109500613&loc=SL6036836-161870

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ecpg_TwoThousandTwentyConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableMember
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- Details

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- Details

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Borrowings - Debt and Equity Components and Issuance Costs of Convertible Notes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Equity component		$ 83,127	$ 83,127
Debt issued		672,855	672,855
2020 Convertible Notes \| Convertible Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt component		140,247
Equity component		32,253
Equity issuance cost		$ 1,106
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.00%
Effective interest rate (as a percent)		6.35%
Extinguishment of debt	$ 83,100
Debt issued		$ 89,355	89,355
2021 Convertible Notes \| Convertible Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt component		143,645
Equity component		17,355
Equity issuance cost		$ 581
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		2.875%
Effective interest rate (as a percent)		4.70%
Debt issued		$ 161,000	161,000
2022 Convertible Notes \| Convertible Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt component		137,266
Equity component		12,734
Equity issuance cost		$ 398
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.25%
Effective interest rate (as a percent)		5.20%
Debt issued		$ 150,000	150,000
2023 Exchangeable Notes \| Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt component		157,971
Equity component		14,009
Equity issuance cost		$ 0
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		4.50%
Effective interest rate (as a percent)		6.50%
Debt issued		$ 172,500	172,500
2025 Convertible Notes \| Convertible Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt component		91,024
Equity component		8,976
Equity issuance cost		$ 224
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.25%
Effective interest rate (as a percent)		5.00%
Debt issued		$ 100,000	$ 100,000