Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 Segment		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments	2
Assets	$ 2,685,274	[1]	$ 1,171,340	[1]
Portfolio Purchasing and Recovery [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	2,400,000
Tax Lien Transfer [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$ 253,400

[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."