Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
Revenues
Revenue from receivable portfolios	$ 304,105	$ 338,018
Changes in recoveries	167,223	44,537
Total debt purchasing revenue	471,328	382,555
Servicing revenue	26,146	32,516
Other revenues	2,208	1,766
Total revenues	499,682	416,837
Operating expenses
Salaries and employee benefits	96,956	96,456
Cost of legal collections	55,717	67,142
General and administrative expenses	33,534	32,148
Other operating expenses	27,027	28,441
Collection agency commissions	9,605	12,824
Depreciation and amortization	11,829	11,512
Total operating expenses	234,668	248,523
Income from operations	265,014	168,314
Other expense
Interest expense	(34,633)	(46,526)
Other income (expense)	392	(55)
Total other expense	(34,241)	(46,581)
Income before income taxes	230,773	121,733
Provision for income taxes	(55,024)	(26,968)
Net income	175,749	94,765
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	(135)
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	$ 175,749	$ 94,630
Earnings per share attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc.:
Basic (USD per share)	$ 7.11	$ 3.01
Diluted (USD per share)	$ 6.40	$ 2.97
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (shares)	24,722	31,469
Diluted (shares)	27,482	31,832