<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001229060-03-000005
<TYPE>3/A
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030421
<FILING-DATE>20030523
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC
<CIK>0001084961
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6153
<IRS-NUMBER>481090909
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>5775 ROSECOE COURT
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92123
<PHONE>8007590327
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>5775 ROSCOE COURT
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92123
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>MCM CAPITAL GROUP INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19990430
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>MIDLAND CORP OF KANSAS
<DATE-CHANGED>19990423
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>JAMES ALISON
<CIK>0001229060
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3/A
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-26489
<FILM-NUMBER>03718493
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC
<STREET2>5775 ROSCOE COURT
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92123
<PHONE>8584454581
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC
<STREET2>5775 ROSCOE COURT
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92123
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>amendform3_james052303ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   04/22/03  TZ    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-04-21</periodOfReport>
   <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-04-29</dateOfOriginalSubmission>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001084961</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ECPG</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
      <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001229060</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JAMES ALISON</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>SVP, Human Resources</officerTitle>
       </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
   <nonDerivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>None</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionShares>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeSecurity>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>2.95</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2013-04-21</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>50000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
   <footnotes>
<footnote id="F1"> Various</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Alison James</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-05-23</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
