Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues
Revenue from receivable portfolios, net	$ 448,714	$ 364,294	$ 299,732
Servicing fees and other related revenue	18,657	17,014	16,687
Total revenues	467,371	381,308	316,419
Operating expenses
Salaries and employee benefits (excluding stock-based compensation expense)	81,509	65,767	58,025
Stock-based compensation expense	7,709	6,010	4,384
Cost of legal collections	157,050	121,085	112,570
Other operating expenses	39,776	36,387	26,013
Collection agency commissions	14,162	20,385	19,278
General and administrative expenses	41,730	31,444	26,920
Depreciation and amortization	4,661	3,199	2,592
Total operating expenses	346,597	284,277	249,782
Income from operations	120,774	97,031	66,637
Other (expense) income
Interest expense	(21,116)	(19,349)	(16,160)
Other (expense) income	(394)	316	3,266
Total other expense	(21,510)	(19,033)	(12,894)
Income before income taxes	99,264	77,998	53,743
Provision for income taxes	(38,306)	(28,946)	(20,696)
Net income	$ 60,958	$ 49,052	$ 33,047
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	24,572	23,897	23,215
Diluted	25,690	25,091	24,082
Earnings per share:
Basic	$ 2.48	$ 2.05	$ 1.42
Diluted	$ 2.37	$ 1.95	$ 1.37