Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]
Investment in receivable portfolios collection forecast estimate	$ 147,100,000		$ 147,100,000
Income recognized under cost recovery method			0
Face value of receivable portfolios	68,900,000,000	6,000,000,000	70,500,000,000	8,900,000,000
Purchase price of receivable portfolios	423,113,000	230,983,000	481,884,000	361,446,000
Purchase cost as a percentage of face value	0.60%	3.80%	0.70%	4.00%
Estimated future collections at acquisition for receivable portfolios	1,000,000,000	407,400,000	1,100,000,000	643,600,000
Zero Basis Revenue	4,700,000	6,100,000	9,400,000	12,200,000
AACC Merger [Member]
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]
Purchase price of receivable portfolios	381,233,000		381,233,000
Investment Receivables Including AACC [Member]
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]
Face value of receivable portfolios	68,200,000,000		68,200,000,000
Purchase price of receivable portfolios	381,233,000		381,233,000
Purchase cost as a percentage of face value	0.60%		0.60%
Investment Receivables Excluding AACC [Member]
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]
Face value of receivable portfolios	700,000,000		2,300,000,000
Purchase price of receivable portfolios	$ 41,900,000		$ 100,700,000
Purchase cost as a percentage of face value	5.80%		4.40%
Minimum [Member]
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]
Collection forecast estimated on receivable portfolios			84 months
Maximum [Member]
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]
Collection forecast estimated on receivable portfolios			96 months