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Fair Value Measurements - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fair value inputs, fluctuation in cost to collect and discount rate		100.00%
Convertible senior notes, carrying value	$ 483,500	$ 483,500	$ 483,500
Senior secured notes, carrying value	325,000	325,000	326,029
Senior Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Convertible senior notes, carrying value	455,700	455,700	450,800
Senior Notes | Level 2
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fair value estimate of convertible senior notes incorporates quoted market prices	475,200	475,200	520,900
Secured Debt
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Senior secured notes, carrying value	1,186,200	1,186,200	1,214,600
Secured Debt | Level 2
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of senior notes	1,202,400	1,202,400	1,258,900
United States
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Increase or decrease of the fair value (100 basis points)		55,100
Europe
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Increase or decrease of the fair value (100 basis points)		71,300
Fair Value | Certain Loans Acquired in Transfer Not Accounted for as Debt Securities
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of investment receivable portfolios	3,195,900	3,195,900	3,415,300
Carrying Value | Certain Loans Acquired in Transfer Not Accounted for as Debt Securities
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fair value of investment receivable portfolios	3,084,600	3,084,600	2,890,600
Contingent Consideration
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Contingent consideration	6,993	6,993	$ 10,612	$ 2,531
Contingent Consideration | General and administrative expenses
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Issuance (reversal) of contingent consideration in connection with acquisition	$ (2,400)	$ (4,700)

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Amount of increase (decrease) in fair value from changes in the assumptions or model used to calculate the fair value of a contract to service financial assets under which the benefits of servicing are expected to more than adequately compensate the servicer.

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Amount of increase (decrease) in the value of a contingent consideration liability, including, but not limited to, differences arising upon settlement.

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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.

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Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable.

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Fair value of financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

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Fair value portion of receivables, including, but not limited to, trade account receivables, note receivables, and loan receivables.

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