FINANCING RECEIVABLES, ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011
Activity in the allowance for credit losses of financing receivables [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 15,572		$ 5,170	$ 10,935		$ 2,024
Provision for credit losses	5,698		3,476	10,910		7,801
Charge-offs	0		(348)	(124)		(1,717)
Recoveries	4		94	35		284
Deconsolidation of LEAF				(482)
Balance, end of period	21,274		8,392	21,274		8,392
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	21,274		7,902	21,274		7,902
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	0		490	0		490
Balance, end of period	21,274		8,392	21,274		8,392
Gross financing receivables related to the balance in the allowance for credit losses [Abstract]
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	68,201			68,201			65,320
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	0			0			192,442
Balance, end of period	68,201			68,201			257,762
Receivables from Managed Entities [Member]
Activity in the allowance for credit losses of financing receivables [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	15,538		4,740	10,490		1,075
Provision for credit losses	5,711		3,162	10,759		6,827
Charge-offs	0		0	0		0
Recoveries	0		0	0		0
Deconsolidation of LEAF				0
Balance, end of period	21,249		7,902	21,249		7,902
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	21,249		7,902	21,249		7,902
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	0		0	0		0
Balance, end of period	21,249		7,902	21,249		7,902
Gross financing receivables related to the balance in the allowance for credit losses [Abstract]
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	68,166			68,166			65,305
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	0			0			0
Balance, end of period	68,166	[1]		68,166	[1]		65,305	[2]
Investments in Commercial Finance Leases and Loans [Member]
Activity in the allowance for credit losses of financing receivables [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	0		300	430		770
Provision for credit losses	(4)		308	141		848
Charge-offs	0		(300)	(124)		(1,478)
Recoveries	4		92	35		260
Deconsolidation of LEAF				(482)
Balance, end of period	0		400	0		400
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	0		0	0		0
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	0		400	0		400
Balance, end of period	0		400	0		400
Gross financing receivables related to the balance in the allowance for credit losses [Abstract]
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment							0
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment							192,442
Balance, end of period							192,442
Rent receivables [Member]
Activity in the allowance for credit losses of financing receivables [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	34			15
Provision for credit losses	(9)			10
Charge-offs	0			0
Recoveries	0			0
Deconsolidation of LEAF				0
Balance, end of period	25			25
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	25			25
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	0			0
Balance, end of period	25			25
Gross financing receivables related to the balance in the allowance for credit losses [Abstract]
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	35			35			15
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	0			0			0
Balance, end of period	35			35			15
Future Payment Card Receivables [Member]
Activity in the allowance for credit losses of financing receivables [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period			130			130
Provision for credit losses			6			126
Charge-offs			(48)			(190)
Recoveries			2			24
Balance, end of period			90			90
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment			0			0
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment			90			90
Balance, end of period			90			90
Investment in Real Estate Loan [Member]
Activity in the allowance for credit losses of financing receivables [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period			0			49
Provision for credit losses			0			0
Charge-offs			0			(49)
Recoveries			0			0
Balance, end of period			0			0
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment			0			0
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment			0			0
Balance, end of period			$ 0			$ 0

[1] As of June 30, 2012, receivables related to the Company's commercial finance and real estate investment entities were presented gross of allowances for credit losses of $18.8 million and $2.4 million, respectively. The remaining receivables from managed entities and related parties have no related allowance for credit losses.

[2] As of September 30, 2011, receivables related to the Company's commercial finance and real estate investment entities were presented gross of an allowance for credit losses of $8.3 million and $2.2 million, respectively. The remaining receivables from managed entities and related parties have no related allowance for credit losses.