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Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands | 9 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) subsidiary | Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Fluctuation in cost to collect rate | 1.00% |  | 1.00% |  |  |
Fluctuation in discount rate | 1.00% |  | 1.00% |  |  |
Carrying value of investment in receivable portfolios | $ 2,323,224 | $ 2,351,767 | $ 2,143,560 | $ 2,073,232 | $ 1,987,985 | $ 1,590,249
Convertible senior notes, carrying value | 448,500 |  | 448,500 |  |  |
Unamortized debt discount | 44,255 |  | 51,202 |  |  |
Fair value estimate of convertible senior notes incorporates quoted market prices | 451,900 |  | 507,400 |  |  |
Senior secured notes, carrying value | 32,500 |  | 43,750 |  |  |
Senior secured notes, debt premium | $ 57,387 |  | 67,259 |  |  |
Number of subsidiaries | subsidiary | 2 |  |  |  |  |
Cabot and Marlin Acquisitions [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior secured notes, carrying value | $ 1,100,000 |  | 1,100,000 |  |  |
Senior secured notes, debt premium | $ 57,400 |  | $ 67,300 |  |  |
United States [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated market participant cost to collect | 50.30% |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate | 12.00% |  |  |  |  |
Increase or decrease of the fair value (100 basis points) | $ 41,200 |  |  |  |  |
Europe [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated market participant cost to collect | 30.00% |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate | 13.40% |  |  |  |  |
Increase or decrease of the fair value (100 basis points) | $ 57,500 |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition The net increase or decrease in fair value as a result of changes in the assumptions or model used to calculate the fair value of servicing assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 860 -SubTopic 50 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(4)(i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56950315&loc=d3e122625-111746 + Details
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- Definition The recorded balance, net of any applicable reductions (for example, unamortized accretable yield and allowance for loan losses). This relates to loans not accounted for debt securities with evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination that were acquired by completion of a transfer for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the investor will be unable to collect all contractually required payments receivable. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 30 -Section 15 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27045933&loc=d3e13503-111538 + Details
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- Definition Fair value portion of borrowing which can be exchanged for a specified number of another security at the option of the issuer or the holder, for example, but not limited to, the entity's common stock. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Convertible Security -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509036 + Details
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- Definition Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of a written promise to pay a note, initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer, which can be exchanged for a specified amount of one or more securities (typically common stock), at the option of the issuer or the holder. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20, 22 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition Interest rate used to find the present value of an amount to be paid or received in the future as an input to measure fair value. For example, but not limited to, weighted average cost of capital (WACC), cost of capital, cost of equity and cost of debt. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (bbb) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
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