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Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets - Schedule of Reportable Segments by Reporting Units (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2015
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance at beginning of period | $ 897,933 | $ 897,933
Goodwill acquired |  | 64,534
Goodwill adjustment |  | 2,410
Effect of foreign currency translation |  | (24,696)
Balance at end of period |  | 940,181
Portfolio Purchasing and Recovery [Member] |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance at beginning of period | 848,656 | 848,656
Goodwill acquired |  | 64,534
Goodwill adjustment |  | 2,410
Effect of foreign currency translation |  | (24,696)
Balance at end of period |  | 890,904
Portfolio Purchasing and Recovery [Member] | Atlantic Credit and Finance, Inc. [Member] |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill adjustment | 2,400 |
Goodwill, increase during period | 2,400 |
Tax Lien Transfer [Member] |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Balance at beginning of period | $ 49,277 | 49,277
Goodwill acquired |  | 0
Goodwill adjustment |  | 0
Effect of foreign currency translation |  | 0
Balance at end of period |  | $ 49,277

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- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266 + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) from adjustments after acquisition date under purchase accounting of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 16 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34752592&loc=d3e961-128460 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
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