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Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets - Narrative (Detail) $ in Thousands |  | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Feb. 19, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) reporting_unit | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number of reporting units | reporting_unit |  | 6 |  |  |
Amortization expense |  | $ 5,000 | $ 3,600 | $ 800 |
Goodwill impairment |  | $ 49,277 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
Portfolio Purchasing and Recovery [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number of reporting units | reporting_unit |  | 5 |  |  |
Goodwill impairment |  | $ 0 |  |  |
Tax Lien Transfer [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill impairment |  | 49,277 |  |  |
Propel [Member] | Tax Lien Transfer [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill impairment |  | $ 49,300 |  |  |
Propel [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of membership interest | 100.00% |  |  |  |
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Propel [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Enterprise value |  |  |  |  | $ 344,300
Consideration payable to Company |  |  |  |  | $ 142,800

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