Segment Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Reconciliation of Revenue and Operating Income from Segments to Consolidated

The following table provides a reconciliation of revenue and segment operating income by reportable segment to consolidated results and was derived from the segments’ internal financial information as used for corporate management purposes (in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
Revenues:
Portfolio purchasing and recovery	$	756,277		$	545,419		$	448,746
Tax lien business		17,087			11,358			—
	$	773,364		$	556,777		$	448,746
Operating income:
Portfolio purchasing and recovery	$	219,510		$	164,038		$	131,970
Tax lien business		5,045			5,677			—
		224,555			169,715			131,970
Depreciation and amortization		(13,547	)		(5,840	)		(4,081	)
Stock-based compensation		(12,649	)		(8,794	)		(7,709	)
Other expense		(77,491	)		(24,756	)		(21,511	)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	120,868		$	130,325		$	98,669

Schedule of Geographical Areas of Which Company Operates

The following presents information about geographic areas in which the Company operates (in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2013		2012		2011
Revenues(1) :
United States	$	677,873	$	556,777	$	448,746
United Kingdom		95,491		—		—
	$	773,364	$	556,777	$	448,746

⁽¹⁾  Revenues are attributed to countries based on location of customer.