Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Assets [Abstract] ASSETS Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents at end of year Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents Investment [Abstract] Investments: Available-for-sale (at fair value) Restricted cash Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current Certain Loans Acquired in Transfer Not Accounted for as Debt Securities, Carrying Amount, Net Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation (at net realizable value) Other investments Other Long-term Investments Due from Third Party Collection Agencies and Attorneys Due from third party collection agencies and attorneys Due from third party collection agencies and attorneys. Income Taxes Receivable Prepaid and income taxes receivable Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Balance, end of period Furniture and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation of $3,696,000 in 2012 and $3,316,000 in 2011) Deferred Tax Assets, Net Net deferred tax asset Deferred income taxes Deferred income taxes Liabilities Liabilities [Abstract] Short-term Debt Non-recourse debt Non recourse debt Other Liabilities Total other liabilities Other liabilities Dividends Payable Dividends payable Commitments and contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Preferred stock, $.01 par value; authorized 5,000,000; Issued - none outstanding Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Preferred stock, par value Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 30,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 14,778,956 shares in 2012 and 14,639,456 shares in 2011 Common stock, par value Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Treasury Stock, Value Treasury stock (at cost), 1,772,038 shares in 2012 and 8,900 shares in 2011 Treasury Stock Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Total Total stockholders' equity Revenues Total revenues Total revenue Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Expenses: General and Administrative Expense General and administrative expenses Interest Expense Interest expense (Related Party - 2011, $86,000; 2010, $518,000) Interest Expense, Related Party Interest expense to Related party Income before income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Income (loss) before income taxes Income tax expense Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Net income Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net income attributable to Asta Funding, Inc. Net income attributable to Asta Funding, Inc. Basic net income per share Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic net income per share attributable to Asta Funding, Inc. Diluted net income per share Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted net income (loss) per share Diluted net income per share attributable to Asta Funding, Inc. Weighted average shares outstanding: Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Basic Basic, Weighted Average Number of Shares Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Diluted Diluted, Weighted Average Number of Shares Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Shares, Issued Ending Balance, shares Beginning Balance, shares Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Treasury Stock [Member] Treasury Stock Stock based compensation expense Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Dividends, Common Stock, Cash Dividends Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Net of Tax Net unrealized securities gain (loss) arising during the period, net of (taxes) benefit of ($495,000) and $196,000 during the years ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively Unrealized loss on marketable securities Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Total comprehensive income (loss) Cash flows from operating activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments, Noncash Items, to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred Income Tax Expense Total Deferred income taxes Stock based compensation Share-based Compensation Changes in: Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other assets Increase Decrease in Due from Third Party Collection Agencies and Attorneys Due from third party collection agencies and attorneys Due from third party collection agencies and attorneys. Increase Decrease in Income Taxes Payable and Receivable Income taxes payable and receivable Income taxes payable and receivable. Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities Other liabilities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities Cash flows from investing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Payments to Acquire Finance Receivables Purchase of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation Proceeds from Sale and Collection of Finance Receivables Principal payments received from collection of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation Proceeds from Receivable Accounts Represented by Account Sales Principal payments received from collections represented by sales of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation Principal collected on receivables accounts represented by account sales Payment to Foreign Exchange Effect on Receivables Acquired for Liquidation Effect of foreign currency translation Foreign exchange effect on receivables acquired for liquidation. Effect of foreign exchange on consumer receivables acquired for liquidation Purchase of available-for-sale securities Payments to Acquire Available-for-sale Securities Payments to Acquire Other Investments Other investments - advances Payments to Acquire Productive Assets Capital expenditures Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from financing activities: Payments of Dividends, Common Stock Dividends paid Repayments of Long-term Debt Repayments of debt, net Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash used in financing activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Supplemental Cash Flow Information Cash Paid [Abstract] Cash paid for: Cash paid for during the period. Interest (Related Party: 2012 - $0; 2011 - $122,000; 2010 - $568,000) Interest Paid Interest Paid to Related Party Interest paid to related party. Interest paid to Related party Income Taxes Paid Income taxes Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] The Company and its Significant Accounting Policies The Company and its Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Investments Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block] Investments [Abstract] Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block] Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation [Abstract] Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Furniture and Equipment Furniture and Equipment [Abstract] Non-Recourse Debt and Subordinated Debt - Related Party Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Non-Recourse Debt and Subordinated Debt - Related Party [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes [Abstract] Stock Option Plans [Text Block] Stock Option Plans Stock option plans. Stock Option Plans [Abstract] Stock Option Plans Stockholders' Equity Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value of Financial Measurements and Disclosures Fair Value of Financial Measurements and Disclosures [Abstract] Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Document Type Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract] Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Foreign currency translation Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Total Foreign currency translation, net Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block] Reclassifications Available-for-sale Securities [Table Text Block] Available-for-Sale Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gain (Loss) Unrealized Gains Certificates of Deposit [Table Text Block] Certificates of deposit Certificates of deposit. Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract] Available-for-Sale Certificates of Deposits [Abstract] Certificates of deposit Certificates of deposits. Certificate of deposit Brokered Brokered certificates of deposits Certificate of deposit, brokered. Schedule of Consumer Receivables After Liquidation [Table Text Block] Changes in the balance sheet account of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation Schedule of consumer receivables after liquidation. Net Cash Collections Applied to Principal for Interest Method Portfolios [Table Text Block] Net cash collections, applied to principal for interest method portfolios Net cash collections, applied to principal for interest method portfolios. Schedule of Changes in Accretable Yield [Table Text Block] Changes in accretable yield Schedule of changes in accretable yield. Schedule of Collections on Gross Basis [Table Text Block] Collections on a gross basis as received by the third-party Schedule of collections on a gross basis. Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation [Table] Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation. Consumer Receivable [Axis] Consumer receivable. Consumer Receivable [Domain] Consumer receivable. Interest Method [Member] Interest Method Portfolios [Member] Interest method. Cost Recovery Method [Member] Cost Recovery Portfolios [Member] Cost recovery method. Consumer Receivables Acquired For Liquidation [Line Items] Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation. Consumer Receivable Balance, end of period Balance, beginning of period Consumer receivable. Acquisitions of Receivable Portfolios Acquisitions of receivable portfolios, net Acquisitions of receivable portfolios. Net Cash Collection of consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation Net cash collections from collection of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation Net cash collection of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation. Net Cash Collections Represented by Account Sales of Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation Net cash collections represented by account sales of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation Net cash collections represented by account sales of consumer receivables acquired for liquidation. Finance Income Recognized Finance income, net Finance income recognized Finance income recognized. Revenue as Percentage of Collections Revenue as a percentage of collections Revenue as a percentage of collections. Principal for Interest Method Portfolios Next Twelve Months September 30, 2013 Principal for interest method portfolios next twelve months. Principal For Interest Method Portfolios Year Two Principal for interest method portfolios year two. September 30, 2014 Principal for Interest Method Portfolios Year Three September 30, 2015 Principal for interest method portfolios year three. Principal for Interest Method Portfolios Year Four September 30, 2016 Principal for interest method portfolios year four. Principal for Interest Method Portfolios Year Five September 30, 2017 Principal for interest method portfolios year five. Principal for Interest Method Portfolios Year Six September 30, 2018 Principal for interest method portfolios year six. Cash Collection Interest Method Portfolio Total Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation using cost recovery method Cash collection interest method portfolio. Income Recognized on Finance Receivables Income recognized on finance receivables, net Income recognized on finance receivables. Additions Representing Expected Revenue from Purchases Additions representing expected revenue from purchases. Additions representing expected revenue from purchases Reclassifications from Nonaccretable Difference Reclassifications from non-accretable difference (1) Reclassifications from non-accretable difference. Collections on Gross Basis [Abstract] Collections on a gross basis as received by the third-party Collections on gross basis. Gross Collection Gross collections Gross collection. Collection by Company's Third Party Net collections Collection by company's third party. Fees and Commissions Commissions and fees Cash Collections Applied to Principal for Interest Method Portfolios [Abstract] Net cash collections, applied to principal for interest method portfolios Cash collections, applied to principal for interest method portfolios. Changes in Accretable Yield [Abstract] Changes in accretable yield. Changes in accretable yield Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation (Textual) [Abstract] Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation (Textual) [Abstract] Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation. Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation Using Interest Method Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation using interest method. Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation using interest method Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation Using Cost Recovery Method Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation using cost recovery method. Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation using cost recovery method Derived From Fully Amortized Interest Method Pools Fully amortized portfolios Derived from fully amortized interest method pools. Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation. Face Value of Charged Off Consumer Receivables Face value of charged-off consumer receivables Face value of charged-off consumer receivables. Purchased Cost of Charged Off Consumer Receivables Purchased cost of charged-off consumer receivables Purchased cost of charged-off consumer receivables. Net Collections on Interest Method Receivables Net collections on the interest method receivables Net collections on the interest method receivables. Consumer Receivables Acquired for Liquidation Concentrated in One Portfolio Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation concentrated in one portfolio Consumer receivables acquired for liquidation concentrated in one portfolio. Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block] Furniture and equipment Furniture and Fixtures [Member] Furniture [Member] Equipment [Member] Equipment [Member] Leasehold Improvements [Member] Leasehold improvements [Member] Software [Member] Software [Member] Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract] Furniture and equipment Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross Total Furniture and equipment, accumulated depreciation Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Less accumulated depreciation Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment [Table] Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Axis] Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Domain] Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] Amendment [Table] Amendment. Amendment [Axis] Amendment Amendment [Domain] Amendment. Third Amendment [Member] Third Amendment [Member] Third amendment.