<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-12-003718.txt : 20120124
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-12-003718.hdr.sgml : 20120124
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120124191850
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-12-003718
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120124
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120124

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SORENSEN NORMAN R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001166873

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26489
		FILM NUMBER:		12542947

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		711 HIGH STREET
		CITY:			DES MOINES
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50392-0300

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001084961
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SHORT-TERM BUSINESS CREDIT INSTITUTIONS [6153]
		IRS NUMBER:				481090909
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3111 CAMINO DEL RIO NORTH
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1300
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92108
		BUSINESS PHONE:		877-445-4581

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3111 CAMINO DEL RIO NORTH
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1300
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92108

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MCM CAPITAL GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990430

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MIDLAND CORP OF KANSAS
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990423
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd331450.xml
<DESCRIPTION>SORENSEN FORM 4 012012
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-01-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001084961</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ECPG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001166873</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SORENSEN NORMAN R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3111 CAMINO DEL RIO NORTH, SUITE 1300</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92108</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>2012-01-20</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3265</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3265</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On January 20, 2012, Encore Capital Group, Inc. (&quot;Encore&quot;) issued 3,265 deferred issuance restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) to Norman R. Sorensen, under the Encore 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, in connection with his service on Encore's Board of Directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares are in the form of RSUs. Each RSU represents the right to receive one share of Encore common stock upon settlement, which shall occur within 10 days following the date the reporting person is no longer a member of the Board of Directors. The RSUs are fully vested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Carrie Darling, Attorney in Fact for Norman R. Sorensen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-01-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
