Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net - Summary of Changes in the Balance of the Investment in Receivable Portfolios (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	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]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 801,525	$ 741,580	$ 873,119	$ 716,454
Purchases of receivable portfolios	423,113	230,983	481,884	361,446
Gross collections	(278,388)	(240,544)	(548,558)	(471,552)
Put-backs and recalls	(1,576)	(891)	(2,454)	(1,625)
Revenue recognized	148,350	137,569	288,027	264,347
(Portfolio allowances) portfolio allowance reversals, net	3,674	1,162	4,680	789
Balance, end of period	1,096,698	869,859	1,096,698	869,859
Revenue as a percentage of collections	53.30%	57.20%	52.50%	56.10%
Accrual Basis Portfolios [Member]
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period	801,525	741,580	873,119	716,454
Purchases of receivable portfolios	423,113	230,983	481,884	361,446
Transfer of portfolios	(6,649)		(6,649)
Gross collections	(269,710)	(233,437)	(534,269)	(457,380)
Put-backs and recalls	(1,543)	(891)	(2,421)	(1,625)
Revenue recognized	143,607	131,443	278,622	252,189
(Portfolio allowances) portfolio allowance reversals, net	579	181	636	(1,225)
Balance, end of period	1,090,922	869,859	1,090,922	869,859
Revenue as a percentage of collections	53.20%	56.30%	52.20%	55.10%
Cost Recovery Portfolios [Member]
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]
Transfer of portfolios	6,649		6,649
Gross collections	(842)		(842)
Put-backs and recalls	(31)		(31)
Balance, end of period	5,776		5,776
Revenue as a percentage of collections	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Zero Basis Portfolios [Member]
Certain Loans Acquired In Transfer Not Accounted For As Debt Securities Carrying Amount Net [Line Items]
Gross collections	(7,836)	(7,107)	(13,447)	(14,172)
Put-backs and recalls	(2)		(2)
Revenue recognized	4,743	6,126	9,405	12,158
(Portfolio allowances) portfolio allowance reversals, net	$ 3,095	$ 981	$ 4,044	$ 2,014
Revenue as a percentage of collections	60.50%	86.20%	69.90%	85.80%