Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Revenues
Revenue from receivable portfolios	$ 297,219	$ 316,225	$ 907,606	$ 982,393
Changes in recoveries	(13,080)	65,913	179,293	176,628
Total debt purchasing revenue	284,139	382,138	1,086,899	1,159,021
Servicing revenue	21,992	29,321	71,926	93,901
Other revenues	1,621	1,165	5,526	4,274
Total revenues	307,752	412,624	1,164,351	1,257,196
Operating expenses
Salaries and employee benefits	89,241	94,662	285,077	288,892
Cost of legal collections	52,891	64,170	163,756	198,212
General and administrative expenses	37,274	35,819	105,775	102,790
Other operating expenses	28,286	25,226	82,718	81,895
Collection agency commissions	7,884	11,964	27,412	38,465
Depreciation and amortization	11,659	14,136	35,134	37,694
Total operating expenses	227,235	245,977	699,872	747,948
Income from operations	80,517	166,647	464,479	509,248
Other expense
Interest expense	(39,308)	(40,874)	(110,995)	(131,559)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	(9,300)
Other income (expense)	1,205	(17,504)	3,392	(16,993)
Total other expense	(38,103)	(58,378)	(107,603)	(157,852)
Income before income taxes	42,414	108,269	356,876	351,396
Provision for income taxes	(10,920)	(24,703)	(89,194)	(76,278)
Net income	31,494	83,566	267,682	275,118
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	(419)
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	$ 31,494	$ 83,566	$ 267,682	$ 274,699
Earnings per share attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc.:
Basic (USD per share)	$ 1.31	$ 2.76	$ 11.00	$ 8.90
Diluted (USD per share)	$ 1.22	$ 2.66	$ 10.06	$ 8.71
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (shares)	23,958	30,225	24,344	30,863
Diluted (shares)	25,919	31,362	26,601	31,531