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Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) pool_group | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Initial collection forecast |  | 120 months |  |
Extended collection forecast |  | 180 months |  |
Allowance charges |  | $ 12,047 | $ 94,011 | $ 8,322
Reduction in allowance charges |  | $ 53,283 | 9,834 | 15,085
Number of pool groups | pool_group |  | 2 |  |
Face value of receivable portfolios |  | $ 10,100,000 | 9,800,000 |
Purchase price of receivable portfolios |  | $ 1,058,235 | $ 906,719 | 1,023,722
Purchase cost as a percentage of face value |  | 10.50% | 9.20% |
Estimated future collections at acquisition for receivable portfolios |  | $ 2,200,000 | $ 1,700,000 |
Zero basis revenue |  | 144,100 | $ 138,100 | $ 96,400
Europe | Investment in Receivable Portfolios |  |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Allowance charges | $ 94,000 |  |  |
Reduction in allowance charges |  | 45,700 |  |
PUERTO RICO | Investment in Receivable Portfolios |  |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Allowance charges |  | $ 11,400 |  |

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- Definition Certain loans acquired in transfer not accounted for as debt securities, purchases of receivable portfolios. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of reduction in the reserve for loans impairments as a result of current information and events which result in it being probable that estimated cash flows will be significantly higher than previously expected or because actual cash flows are significantly greater than cash flows previously expected for loans not accounted for as debt securities, with evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination that was 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 No definition available. + Details
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