Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
May 19, 2008
Subsidiary
Nov. 02, 2010
Robinson v. Midland Funding LLC [Member]
Class_Action
Dec. 17, 2010
Tovar v. Midland Credit Management [Member]
Class_Action
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]            
Number of class actions filed         2 2
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]            
Number of subsidiaries against which counter-claim filed       2    
Company's rent expense $ 6,900,000 $ 5,800,000 $ 4,500,000      
Purchase price of receivable portfolios 308,600,000          
Purchase price 11,600,000          
Total contributions and administrative costs 1,200,000 1,100,000 1,200,000      
Loss provisions insuring losses for self-insured health benefit plan 150,000          
Reserve for unpaid claims 300,000          
Estimated fair value, liability 0          
Purchase commitments in past one year 0          
Material reserves for litigation $ 0