<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000030697-03-000175
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030925
<FILING-DATE>20030929
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>MADISON WEST ASSOCIATES CORP
<CIK>0001168446
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-26489
<FILM-NUMBER>03916188
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O TRIARC COMPAINES INC
<STREET2>280 PARK AVENUE 24TH FL
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10017
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</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>mad1.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-09-25</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001084961</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>(ECPG)</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001168446</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MADISON WEST ASSOCIATES CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>280 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-09-25</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</transactionDate>
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				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>1745660</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
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					<footnoteId id="F1"/>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>2281269</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
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				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
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				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>256270</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>11.00</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
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				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
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					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
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				<footnoteId id="F3"/>
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			<deemedExecutionDate>
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				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
				<footnoteId id="F3"/>
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			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>101275</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
					<footnoteId id="F3"/>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>1923724</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-09-29</value>
				<footnoteId id="F3"/>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
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				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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				<footnoteId id="F3"/>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>101275</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
					<footnoteId id="F3"/>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>2024999</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Series A Senior Cumulative Part Conv Pfd Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>0.50</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-09-25</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>174566</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
					<footnoteId id="F1"/>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<footnoteId id="F4"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>1745660</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>0</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">In connection with an underwritten public offering (the Offering) of the Issuer's Common Stock, holders of Series A Senior Cumulative Participating Convertible  Preferred Stock  (the Series A Preferred Stock) entered into a Preferred Stock Conversion Agreement, whereby each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be converted into ten shares of the Issuer's Common Stock, without additional consideration, concurrently with the closing of the Offering, which is scheduled for October 1, 2003.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">On September 25, 2003, the Reporting Person entered into an Underwriting Agreement providing for the sale by the Reporting Person of 256,270 shares of the Issuer's Common Stock.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F3">Triarc Companies, Inc. (Triarc), the sole stockholder of the Reporting Person, has agreed to contribute to the Reporting Person the 101,275 shares of Encore Common Stock that it receives upon exercise of Encore Common Stock warrants that it holds.  The Reporting Person has agreed to dividend to Triarc 101,275 shares of Encore stock that it currently holds upon receipt of such contribution by Triarc.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F4">Immediately</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Stuart I. Rosen - Senior Vice President</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-09-29</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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