Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets - Schedule of Reportable Segments by Reporting Units (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance, December 31, 2012	$ 55,446
Goodwill acquired	433,508
Goodwill adjustment	(9,130)
Effect of foreign currency translation	24,389
Balance, December 31, 2013	504,213
Portfolio Purchasing and Recovery [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance, December 31, 2012	6,047
Goodwill acquired	429,621
Goodwill adjustment	(5,121)
Effect of foreign currency translation	24,389
Balance, December 31, 2013	454,936
Tax Lien Transfer [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance, December 31, 2012	49,399
Goodwill acquired	3,887
Goodwill adjustment	(4,009)
Effect of foreign currency translation
Balance, December 31, 2013	$ 49,277

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

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Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

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Amount of increase (decrease) from adjustments after acquisition date under purchase accounting of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 16

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21917927&loc=d3e961-128460

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Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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