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Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Investment in receivable portfolios, net | $ 2,890,613 | $ 2,382,809 | $ 2,440,669 | $ 2,143,560
Fluctuation in discount rate | 1.00% |  |  |
Convertible senior notes, carrying value | $ 483,500 | 448,500 |  |
Senior secured notes, carrying value | 326,029 | 11,320 |  |
United States |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Increase or decrease of the fair value | 44,900 |  |  |
Europe |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Increase or decrease of the fair value | 64,500 |  |  |
Other geographies |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Increase or decrease of the fair value | 6,600 |  |  |
Senior Notes |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Convertible senior notes, carrying value | 450,800 | 416,500 |  |
Level 2 | Senior Notes |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Fair value estimate of convertible senior notes incorporates quoted market prices | 520,900 | 431,700 |  |
Cabot Senior Secured Notes | Secured Debt |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Senior secured notes, carrying value | 1,214,600 | 1,295,700 |  |
Cabot Senior Secured Notes | Level 2 | Secured Debt |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Fair value of senior notes | 1,258,900 | 1,312,700 |  |
Fair Value | Certain Loans Acquired in Transfer Not Accounted for as Debt Securities |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Receivables fair value disclosure | 3,415,300 | 2,446,600 |  |
Recurring |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Contingent consideration | 10,612 | 2,531 |  |
Recurring | Level 3 |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Contingent consideration | 10,612 | 2,531 |  |
Recurring | Level 2 |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Contingent consideration | 0 | 0 |  |
Contingent Consideration |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Increase (decrease) contingent consideration liability | 10,808 |  |  |
General and Administrative Expense | Contingent Consideration |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Increase (decrease) contingent consideration liability | $ (2,800) | $ (8,100) |  |

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