Customer Accounts Receivable (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2018
Apr. 30, 2017
Apr. 30, 2018
Jan. 31, 2018
Apr. 30, 2017
Total Outstanding Balance          
Customer accounts receivable     $ 1,494,493 $ 1,527,862  
60 Days Past Due     141,594 151,807  
Reaged     365,998 371,545  
Allowance for uncollectible accounts $ (203,572) $ (210,175) (204,100) (203,572) $ (207,061)
Allowances for no-interest option credit programs     (20,827) (20,960)  
Deferred fees and origination costs, net     (15,898) (15,897)  
Total customer accounts receivable, net     1,253,668 1,287,433  
Short-term portion of customer accounts receivable, net     (618,160) (636,825)  
Long-term portion of customer accounts receivable, net     635,508 650,608  
Amounts included within past due and reaged accounts     81,600 80,800  
Past due     383,800 401,000  
Reaged     54,200 62,000  
Allowance for doubtful accounts and uncollectible interest for customer receivables [Abstract]          
Allowance at beginning of period 203,572 210,175      
Provision 55,400 65,748      
Principal charge-offs (50,919) (61,484)      
Interest charge-offs (9,422) (9,614)      
Recoveries 5,469 2,236      
Allowance at end of period 204,100 207,061      
Average total customer portfolio balance     1,506,783   1,511,834
Excluding VIE [Member]          
Total Outstanding Balance          
Customer accounts receivable     624,621 442,477  
60 Days Past Due     33,489 27,180  
Reaged     66,671 71,197  
Variable Interest Entity [Member]          
Total Outstanding Balance          
Customer accounts receivable     869,872 1,085,385  
60 Days Past Due     108,105 124,627  
Reaged     299,327 300,348  
Allowance for uncollectible accounts (143,115)   (127,485) (143,115)  
Allowances for no-interest option credit programs     (14,645) (18,228)  
Deferred fees and origination costs, net     (6,851) (9,332)  
Total customer accounts receivable, net     720,892 914,710  
Short-term portion of customer accounts receivable, net     (391,853) (459,708)  
Long-term portion of customer accounts receivable, net     329,039 455,002  
Allowance for doubtful accounts and uncollectible interest for customer receivables [Abstract]          
Allowance at beginning of period 143,115        
Allowance at end of period 127,485        
Customer Accounts Receivable [Member]          
Total Outstanding Balance          
Customer accounts receivable     1,330,793 1,374,269  
60 Days Past Due     104,499 114,120  
Reaged     202,298 217,952  
Allowance for uncollectible accounts (148,856) (158,992) (144,733) (148,856) (153,651)
Allowance for doubtful accounts and uncollectible interest for customer receivables [Abstract]          
Allowance at beginning of period 148,856 158,992      
Provision 38,740 48,516      
Principal charge-offs (39,775) (48,087)      
Interest charge-offs (7,360) (7,519)      
Recoveries 4,272 1,749      
Allowance at end of period 144,733 153,651      
Average total customer portfolio balance     1,347,373   1,372,808
Restructured Accounts [Member]          
Total Outstanding Balance          
Customer accounts receivable     163,700 153,593  
60 Days Past Due     37,095 37,687  
Reaged     163,700 153,593  
Allowance for uncollectible accounts (54,716) (51,183) (59,367) $ (54,716) (53,410)
Allowance for doubtful accounts and uncollectible interest for customer receivables [Abstract]          
Allowance at beginning of period 54,716 51,183      
Provision 16,660 17,232      
Principal charge-offs (11,144) (13,397)      
Interest charge-offs (2,062) (2,095)      
Recoveries 1,197 487      
Allowance at end of period $ 59,367 $ 53,410      
Average total customer portfolio balance     $ 159,410   $ 139,026