Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 110,156		$ 17,510
Investment in receivable portfolios, net	1,595,642		873,119
Deferred court costs, net	39,004		35,407
Receivables secured by property tax liens, net	186,190		135,100
Property and equipment, net	50,050		23,223
Other assets	120,441		31,535
Goodwill	489,520		55,446
Total assets	2,591,003	[1]	1,171,340	[1]
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	106,632		45,450
Deferred tax liabilities, net	110,453		8,236
Debt	1,806,680		706,036
Other liabilities	6,967		5,802
Total liabilities	2,030,732	[1]	765,524	[1]
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	12,231
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Convertible preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding
Common stock, $.01 par value, 50,000 shares authorized, 25,412 shares and 23,191 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	254		232
Additional paid-in capital	171,548		88,029
Accumulated earnings	371,676		319,329
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss)	455		(1,774)
Total Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders' equity	543,933		405,816
Noncontrolling interest	4,107
Total stockholders' equity	548,040		405,816
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders' equity	$ 2,591,003		$ 1,171,340

[1] The Company's consolidated assets as of September 30, 2013 included $1,067,007 of assets from its variable interest entity, or VIE, that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIE. These assets include cash and cash equivalents of $54,584; investment in receivable portfolios, net, of $596,160; property and equipment, net, of $14,249; other assets of $32,102; and goodwill of $369,912. The Company's consolidated liabilities as of September 30, 2013, included $864,432 of liabilities of its VIE, whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities include accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $31,817; deferred tax liabilities of $6,978; debt of 825,524; and other liabilities of $113. See further details of the assets and liabilities of the Company's VIE in Note 12, "Variable Interest Entity."