Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 126,213		$ 17,510
Investment in receivable portfolios, net	1,590,249		873,119
Deferred court costs, net	41,219		35,407
Receivables secured by property tax liens, net	212,814		135,100
Property and equipment, net	55,783		23,223
Other assets	154,783		31,535
Goodwill	504,213		55,446
Total assets	2,685,274	[1]	1,171,340	[1]
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	137,272		43,909
Deferred tax liabilities, net	7,164		8,236
Debt	1,850,431		706,036
Other liabilities	87,936		7,343
Total liabilities	2,082,803	[1]	765,524	[1]
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	26,564
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, 25,457 shares and 23,191 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	255		232
Additional paid-in capital	171,819		88,029
Accumulated earnings	394,628		319,329
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss)	5,195		(1,774)
Total Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders' equity	571,897		405,816
Noncontrolling interest	4,010
Total stockholders' equity	575,907		405,816
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders' equity	$ 2,685,274		$ 1,171,340

[1] The Company's consolidated assets as of December 31, 2013 included $1,106,538 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 $62,403; investment in receivable portfolios, net, of $620,312; property and equipment, net, of $13,755; other assets of $33,772; and goodwill of $376,296. The Company's consolidated liabilities as of December 31, 2013, included $895,792 of liabilities of its VIE, whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities include accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $47,219; debt of $846,676; and other liabilities of $1,897. See further details of the assets and liabilities of the Company's VIE in Note 11, "Variable Interest Entity."