<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001084961-03-000039
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20021001
<FILING-DATE>20030819
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>WHYTE ROBERT MICHAEL
<CIK>0001168358
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-26489
<FILM-NUMBER>03856678
</FILING-VALUES>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4_whyte081803ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2002-10-01</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001084961</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ECPG</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001168358</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WHYTE ROBERT MICHAEL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>common stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2002-10-01</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>1.00</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>284100</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
   <remarks>*** by Robin R. Pruitt, attorney-in-fact</remarks>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Robert M. Whyte***</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-08-19</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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