<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001084961-03-000049
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20030926
<ITEMS>9
<FILING-DATE>20030926
<FILER>
<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>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-26489
<FILM-NUMBER>03913108
</FILING-VALUES>
<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>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form8k_pressrel-092603.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8K FOR PRESS RELEASE 09-26-03
<TEXT>

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<TITLE>Form 8K Press Release</TITLE>
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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3>UNITED STATES<BR>SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION </FONT><BR><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 </FONT></H1>


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<A NAME=A003></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3>FORM 8-K </FONT></H1>

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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3>CURRENT REPORT </FONT><BR><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d)

<BR>of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 </FONT></H1>

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<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 26, 2003 </FONT></p>




<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3><b>Encore Capital Group,
Inc.</b> </FONT><BR><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=1>(Exact Name of
Registrant as Specified in its Charter)  </FONT></p>




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     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2> Delaware&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TH>
     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2> 000-26489 </FONT></TH>
     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>48-1090909</FONT></TH></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD WIDTH="30%" ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="1">(State or other jurisdiction of </FONT> </TD>
     <TD WIDTH="40%" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="1">(Commission File Number) </FONT> </TD>
     <TD WIDTH="30%" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="1">&nbsp;(I.R.S Employer </FONT> </TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=1>incorporation or organization)</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=1></FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=1>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Identification No.)</FONT></TD>
 </TR>
</TABLE>



<p ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><b>5775 Roscoe Court</b> <BR><b>San Diego, California
92123</b></FONT><BR><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=1>(Address of Principal
Executive Offices) (Zip Code) </FONT></P>


<p ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><b>(877) 445-4581</b> </FONT><BR>
<FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=1>(Registrant&#146;s
Telephone Number, Including Area Code) </FONT></P>

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<A NAME=A001></A>
<H1 ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Item 9. Regulation FD
Disclosure </FONT></H1>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On
September 26, 2003 the Company issued a press release announcing the pricing of a public
offering by the Company and certain selling stockholders of 5,000,000 shares of its common
stock at $11.00 per share. A copy of the press release is attached to this Current Report
on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein solely for purposes of this Item 9. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including the exhibit, is furnished
pursuant to Item 9 and shall not be deemed &#147;filed&#148; for the purposes of Section
18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities under
that Section. Furthermore, the information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including
the exhibit, shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the filings of
Encore Capital Group, Inc. under the Securities Act of 1933. </FONT></P>

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<A NAME=A002></A>
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>SIGNATURES </FONT></H1>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. </FONT></P>

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     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2></FONT></TH>
     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2></FONT></TH>
     <TH align=left><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.</FONT><BR><BR></TH></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD WIDTH=5% ALIGN=left><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Date:</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH=55% ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>September 26, 2003</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH=40% ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;By<u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ Barry R. Barkley&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2></FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2></FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Barry R. Barkley</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2></FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2></FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Executive Vice President,</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2></FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2></FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<BR><BR>


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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>EXHIBIT INDEX </FONT></H1>


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<TD WIDTH=9%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>          Exhibit  </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=3%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=88%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Description
                     </FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN=TOP>
<TD WIDTH=9%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp; 99.1  </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=3%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=88%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
                       <BR>Press release dated September 26, 2003. </FONT></TD>
</TR>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>pressrelease-092603.htm
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE 09-26-03
<TEXT>

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<TITLE>Press Release 09-26-03</TITLE>
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<P ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Exhibit 99.1 </FONT></P>


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     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="1"></FONT></TH></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="10%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"><u><b>Contact:</b></u>  </FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="75%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"><b>Carl C. Gregory, III</b></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
     <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"></FONT></TD>
     <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"><b>President and CEO</b></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
     <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"></FONT></TD>
     <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"><b>Phone:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 858-309-6961</b></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
     <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"></FONT></TD>
     <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"><b>Email:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; carl.gregory@mcmcg.com</b></FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<BR><BR>
<P ALIGN=center><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><B>ENCORE
CAPITAL GROUP, INC. ANNOUNCES PRICING OF PUBLIC<BR> OFFERING OF 5 MILLION SHARES</B></FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>San Diego, California, September 26,
2003 &#151; Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECPG) announced today the pricing of a
public offering by the Company and certain selling stockholders of 5,000,000 shares of its
Common Stock at $11.00 per share. Of the shares being offered, 3,000,000 are being offered
by Encore and 2,000,000 shares are being offered by certain stockholders. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>The underwriters will have an option
to purchase up to an additional 750,000 shares of Encore&#146;s Common Stock from selling
stockholders solely to cover over-allotments at the public offering price less
underwriting discounts and commissions. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Encore intends to use the net
proceeds of the offering to repay certain indebtedness and to provide funds for working
capital and general corporate purposes, which may include the acquisition of charged-off
receivables portfolios and complementary companies. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Jefferies &amp; Company, Inc. leads
the underwriting team, with Brean Murray &amp; Co., Inc. and Roth Capital Partners LLC as
co-managers for the offering. A copy of the prospectus relating to these securities may be
obtained from the underwriters at the following addresses: Jefferies &amp; Company, Inc.,
520 Madison Avenue,12th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10022; Brean Murray &amp; Co., Inc., 570
Lexington Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10022-6822; or Roth Capital Partners, LLC, 24 Corporate
Plaza, Newport Beach, Calif. 92660. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>This press release shall not
constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy the securities
described above, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which
such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or
qualification under the securities laws of any such state. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Encore Capital Group, Inc. is an
accounts receivable management firm that specializes in purchasing charged-off and
defaulted consumer debt. Among Encore&#146;s significant stockholders are Triarc
Companies, Inc., Consolidated Press International Holdings Limited, and their respective
affiliates. </FONT></P><BR><BR>

<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=4><b>### </b></FONT></P>

<BR><BR>
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<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Notes to Press Release </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>The statements in this press release
that are not historical facts, including most importantly, those statements preceded by,
or that include, the words &#147;may,&#148; &#147;believes,&#148; &#147;projects,&#148;
&#147;expects,&#148; &#147;anticipates&#148; or the negation thereof, or similar
expressions, constitute &#147;forward looking statements&#148; within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the &#147;Reform Act&#148;). These
statements may include, but are not limited to, projections of revenues, income or loss,
estimates of capital expenditures, plans for future operations, products or services, and
financing needs or plans, as well as assumptions relating to those matters. For all
&#147;forward-looking statements,&#148; the Company claims the protection of the
safe-harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Reform Act. Such
forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause
actual results, performance or achievements of the Company and our subsidiaries to be
materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the Company&#146;s
results and cause them to materially differ from those contained in the forward-looking
statements include: </FONT></P>

<UL>

<LI><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2> The Company&#146;s ability to
maintain existing, and secure additional, financing; </FONT>
<LI><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2> The Company&#146;s ability to
maintain sufficient liquidity to operate our business;  </FONT>
<LI><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2> The Company&#146;s continued
servicing of the receivables in our secured financing facility; </FONT>

<LI><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
The Company&#146;s ability to recover sufficient amounts on or with respect to receivables
to fund operations (including from sellers of non-conforming receivable portfolios); </FONT>

<LI><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2> The Company&#146;s ability to
hire and retain qualified personnel to recover on its receivables efficiently;</FONT>
<LI><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Changes
in, or failure to comply with, government regulations; </FONT>
<LI><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2> The costs, uncertainties and
other effects of legal and administrative proceedings;</FONT>
<LI><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2> The costs, uncertainties and
other effects of legal and administrative proceedings; and </FONT>
<LI><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2> Risk factors and cautionary
statements set forth in the prospectus and in the Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form
10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2002.</FONT>

</UL>


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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Forward-looking statements speak only
as of the date the statement was made. They are inherently subject to risks and
uncertainties, some of which the Company cannot predict or quantify. Future events and
actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The Company
will not undertake and specifically declines any obligation to publicly release the result
of any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances
after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or
unanticipated events, whether as the result of new information, future events or for any
other reason. In addition, it is the Company&#146;s policy generally not to make any
specific projections as to future earnings, and the Company does not endorse any
projections regarding future performance that may be made by third parties. </FONT></P>


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