-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 SUoFF3N+V4tTmD+3Uv2Q8A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-10-042785.txt : 20100820
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-10-042785.hdr.sgml : 20100820
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100820121357
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-10-042785
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100818
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100820
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100820

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001084961
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SHORT-TERM BUSINESS CREDIT INSTITUTIONS [6153]
		IRS NUMBER:				481090909
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8875 AERO DRIVE, SUITE 200
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92123
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8007590327

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8875 AERO DRIVE, SUITE 200
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92123

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MCM CAPITAL GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990430

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MIDLAND CORP OF KANSAS
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990423

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BLACK J BRANDON
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194775

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26489
		FILM NUMBER:		101029516

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC
		STREET 2:		8875 AERO DRIVE, SUITE 200
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92123
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd284296.xml
<DESCRIPTION>BLACK FORM 4 081810
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-08-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001084961</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ECPG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194775</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BLACK J BRANDON</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8875 AERO DRIVE, #200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92123</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-08-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13125</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.51</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>146358</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-08-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13125</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.9956</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>133233</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10388</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By The Black Family Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.51</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-08-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13125</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-09-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>13125</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>125833</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sale reported was effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on May 7, 2010</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares were sold in multiple transactions on August 18, 2010 at per share prices ranging from $19.87 to $20.20, inclusive.  The price reported reflects the weighted average sale price for the transactions.  The reporting person undertakes to supply the Staff, the issuer, or a security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price upon request.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The shares became exercisable as to 69,445 shares on May 3, 2005, and as to 69,444 shares on each of May 3 2006 and September 11, 2007 and are fully vested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Florentino Zamora, Jr., Attorney-in-Fact for J. Brandon Black</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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