Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Revenues
Revenue from receivable portfolios	$ 328,150	$ 335,287	$ 666,168	$ 692,652
Changes in expected current and future recoveries	66,178	66,007	110,715	(32,654)
Servicing revenue	32,064	23,950	64,580	52,630
Other revenues	1,343	789	3,109	2,486
Total revenues	427,735	426,033	844,572	715,114
Operating expenses
Salaries and employee benefits	97,774	90,867	194,230	183,965
Cost of legal collections	66,900	37,356	134,042	103,635
General and administrative expenses	34,823	28,618	66,971	60,495
Other operating expenses	28,228	28,275	56,669	55,439
Collection agency commissions	13,677	10,683	26,501	23,859
Depreciation and amortization	12,046	10,542	23,558	20,827
Total operating expenses	253,448	206,341	501,971	448,220
Income from operations	174,287	219,692	342,601	266,894
Other (expense) income
Interest expense	(44,159)	(50,327)	(90,685)	(104,989)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(9,300)	0	(9,300)	0
Other income (expense)	566	(3,011)	511	(1,572)
Total other expense	(52,893)	(53,338)	(99,474)	(106,561)
Income before income taxes	121,394	166,354	243,127	160,333
Provision for income taxes	(24,607)	(35,570)	(51,575)	(40,128)
Net income	96,787	130,784	191,552	120,205
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(284)	(452)	(419)	(327)
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	$ 96,503	$ 130,332	$ 191,133	$ 119,878
Earnings per share attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc.:
Basic (USD per share)	$ 3.12	$ 4.15	$ 6.13	$ 3.82
Diluted (USD per share)	$ 3.07	$ 4.13	$ 6.04	$ 3.79
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (shares)	30,909	31,413	31,187	31,361
Diluted (shares)	31,415	31,560	31,622	31,628