Name:	ecpg_CertainLoansAcquiredInTransferNotAccountedForAsDebtSecuritiesAllowanceforLoanLossesEffectofForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss
Namespace Prefix:	ecpg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Reserve for loans impairments recorded after acquisition as a result of current information and events which result in it being probable that estimated cash flows will be less than previously expected or because actual cash flows are less than cash flows previously expected. This relates to 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.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 30
-Section 15
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82894507&loc=d3e13503-111538

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82894903&loc=d3e15032-111544

Name:	us-gaap_CertainLoansAcquiredInTransferNotAccountedForAsDebtSecuritiesAllowanceForLoanLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

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.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_CertainLoansAcquiredInTransferNotAccountedForAsDebtSecuritiesAllowanceForLoanLossesDecreases1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of expense related to loan loss not accounted for as debt securities, with evidence of deterioration of credit quality.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_CertainLoansAcquiredInTransferNotAccountedForAsDebtSecuritiesProvisionForLoanLosses1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

No definition available.