<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000030697-03-000189
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031016
<FILING-DATE>20031020
<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>03947931
</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>mad7.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-10-16</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>2003-10-16</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>123409</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>11.00</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>1901590</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">In connection with an underwritten public offering of the Issuer's common stock that closed on October 1, 2003, the Reporting Person granted to the underwriters an overallotment option to acquire up to 123,409 shares of the Issuer's common stock from the Reporting Person, exercisable at any time within 30 days of the closing.  On October 16, 2003, the underwriters exercised that overallotment option and agreed to acquire all of such shares.  The closing of the sale is scheduled for October 21, 2003.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Stuart I. Rosen - Senior Vice President</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-10-20</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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