Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 73,740	$ 69,477	$ 60,958
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	13,547	5,840	4,661
Impairment charge for goodwill and identifiable intangible assets		10,400
Amortization of loan costs and premium on receivables secured by tax liens	6,715	3,268	1,833
Stock-based compensation expense	12,649	8,794	7,709
Recognized loss on termination of derivative contract	3,630
Deferred income taxes	(28,188)	(7,474)	(1,917)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payment arrangements	(5,609)	(4,123)	(5,101)
Loss on sale of discontinued operations		2,416
(Reversal) provision for allowances on receivable portfolios, net	(12,193)	(4,221)	10,823
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Deferred court costs and other assets	(11,697)	2,893	(4,169)
Prepaid income tax and income taxes payable	(468)	7,060	6,495
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities	22,649	4,190	3,287
Net cash provided by operating activities	74,775	98,520	84,579
Investing activities:
Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired	(449,024)	(186,731)
Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of put-backs	(249,562)	(559,259)	(383,998)
Collections applied to investment in receivable portfolios, net	546,366	406,815	301,474
Originations and purchases of receivables secured by tax liens	(116,960)	(34,036)
Collections applied to receivables secured by tax liens	70,573	35,706
Purchases of property and equipment	(13,423)	(6,265)	(5,564)
Other	(5,210)
Net cash used in investing activities	(217,240)	(343,770)	(88,088)
Financing activities:
Payment of loan costs	(17,207)	(12,359)	(840)
Proceeds from credit facilities	659,940	508,399	121,000
Repayment of credit facilities	(630,163)	(289,673)	(143,000)
Proceeds from senior secured notes	151,670		25,000
Repayment of senior secured notes	(13,750)	(2,500)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes	172,500	115,000
Repayment of preferred equity certificates	(39,743)
Purchases of convertible hedge instruments	(32,008)	(22,669)
Proceeds from sale of warrants		11,028
Repurchase of common stock	(729)	(49,270)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	4,442	1,847	1,263
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards	(9,591)	(2,969)	(3,891)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payment arrangements	5,609	4,123	5,101
Repayment of capital lease obligations	(4,990)	(6,244)	(3,982)
Net cash provided by financing activities	245,980	254,713	651
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	103,515	9,463	(2,858)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	5,118
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	17,510	8,047	10,905
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	126,213	17,510	8,047
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	50,181	25,218	19,038
Cash paid for income taxes	66,759	46,297	32,125
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Fixed assets acquired through capital lease	$ 5,011	$ 5,287	$ 2,949