Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$ (206,492,000)	$ 194,564,000	$ 351,201,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	41,737,000	46,419,000	50,079,000
Other non-cash interest expense, net	17,160,000	15,875,000	17,785,000
Stock-based compensation expense	13,854,000	15,402,000	18,330,000
Deferred income taxes	(55,916,000)	46,410,000	35,371,000
Goodwill impairment	238,200,000	0	0
Impairment of intangible assets	18,726,000	4,075,000	0
Changes in recoveries	82,530,000	(93,145,000)	(199,136,000)
Other, net	(2,259,000)	18,798,000	26,430,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Other assets	15,894,000	(6,722,000)	38,941,000
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities	(10,443,000)	(30,995,000)	(35,948,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	152,991,000	210,681,000	303,053,000
Investing activities:
Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of put-backs	(1,060,206,000)	(790,569,000)	(657,280,000)
Collections applied to investment in receivable portfolios, net	658,130,000	709,176,000	1,019,629,000
Purchases of real estate owned	(26,901,000)	(39,340,000)	(17,090,000)
Purchases of property and equipment	(24,807,000)	(37,224,000)	(33,372,000)
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned	52,636,000	27,722,000	31,159,000
Other, net	(793,000)	0	(3,150,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(401,941,000)	(130,235,000)	339,896,000
Financing activities:
Payment of loan and debt refinancing costs	(13,707,000)	(1,659,000)	(11,963,000)
Proceeds from credit facilities	1,196,046,000	779,513,000	821,931,000
Repayment of credit facilities	(989,627,000)	(515,703,000)	(896,418,000)
Proceeds from senior secured notes	104,188,000	0	353,747,000
Repayment of senior secured notes	(39,080,000)	(39,080,000)	(359,175,000)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes	230,000,000	0	0
Repayment of convertible senior notes	(212,480,000)	(221,153,000)	(161,000,000)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	0	(87,006,000)	(390,606,000)
Other, net	(7,040,000)	(22,357,000)	(12,208,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	268,300,000	(107,445,000)	(655,692,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	19,350,000	(26,999,000)	(12,743,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(4,898,000)	(18,734,000)	13,204,000
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	143,912,000	189,645,000	189,184,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	158,364,000	143,912,000	189,645,000
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	163,815,000	131,391,000	132,400,000
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds	68,522,000	71,276,000	42,039,000
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Investment in receivable portfolios transferred to real estate owned	7,957,000	1,903,000	768,000
Property and equipment acquired through finance leases	$ 234,000	$ 3,273,000	$ 2,664,000