Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 60,958	$ 49,052	$ 33,047
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	4,661	3,199	2,592
Amortization of loan costs and debt discount	1,833	3,682	4,080
Stock-based compensation expense	7,709	6,010	4,384
Gain on repurchase of convertible notes, net			(3,268)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(1,917)	646	1,872
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payment arrangements	(5,101)	(3,249)	(729)
Provision for allowances on receivable portfolios, net	10,823	22,209	19,310
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Other assets	2,179	(1,390)	(1,668)
Deferred court costs	(6,348)	(6,201)	2,379
Prepaid income tax and income taxes payable	6,495	(1,782)	11,204
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities	3,287	3,299	3,316
Net cash provided by operating activities	84,579	75,475	76,519
Investing activities:
Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of forward flow allocation	(386,850)	(361,957)	(246,330)
Collections applied to investment in receivable portfolios, net	301,474	217,891	168,416
Proceeds from put-backs of receivable portfolios	2,852	3,981	3,375
Purchases of property and equipment	(5,564)	(2,722)	(4,632)
Net cash used in investing activities	(88,088)	(142,807)	(79,171)
Financing activities:
Payment of loan costs	(840)	(6,248)
Proceeds from senior secured notes	25,000	50,000
Proceeds from revolving credit facility	121,000	125,500	90,500
Repayment of revolving credit facility	(143,000)	(58,500)	(68,500)
Repayment of convertible notes		(42,920)	(22,262)
Proceeds from net settlement of certain call options		524
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,263	2,118	1,175
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards	(3,891)	(2,024)	(403)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payment arrangements	5,101	3,249	729
Repayment of capital lease obligations	(3,982)	(1,850)	(540)
Net cash provided by financing activities	651	69,849	699
Net (decrease) increase in cash	(2,858)	2,517	(1,953)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	10,905	8,388	10,341
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	8,047	10,905	8,388
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	19,038	15,652	12,521
Cash paid for income taxes	32,125	30,125	8,243
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Fixed assets acquired through capital lease	2,949	4,317	516
Allocation of forward flow asset to acquired receivable portfolios			$ 10,302