Business Combinations - Components of Purchase Price Allocation for Acquisition/Merger (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 Cabot Acquisition [Member]	Jun. 13, 2013 AACC Merger [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 AACC Merger [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash paid at acquisition			$ 177,246	$ 150,800	$ 316,485
Stock consideration					62,352
Total net assets acquired			177,246		378,837
Allocation of purchase price:
Cash			57,520		23,156
Investment in receivable portfolios			558,951		383,382
Deferred court costs					6,940
Property and equipment			13,672		11,003
Other assets			20,349		16,004
Preferred equity certificates assumed			(211,549)
Liabilities assumed					(126,059)
Debt assumed			(559,907)
Other liabilities assumed			(45,142)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests			(12,064)
Noncontrolling interests			(4,051)
Identifiable intangible assets			7,559		1,470
Goodwill	504,213	55,446	351,908		62,941
Total net assets acquired			177,246		378,837
Total net assets acquired			$ 177,246		$ 378,837