Property and Equipment, Net (Property And Equipment, At Cost) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Software	$ 52,990	$ 53,076
Computer equipment	20,090praa_ComputerEquipment	20,488praa_ComputerEquipment
Furniture and fixtures	12,860us-gaap_FurnitureAndFixturesGross	11,502us-gaap_FurnitureAndFixturesGross
Equipment	12,512us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentGross	12,880us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentGross
Leasehold improvements	12,957us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsGross	14,429us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsGross
Building and improvements	7,141us-gaap_BuildingsAndImprovementsGross	7,049us-gaap_BuildingsAndImprovementsGross
Land	1,269us-gaap_Land	1,269us-gaap_Land
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(72,964)	(72,435)
Property and equipment, net	$ 46,855us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	$ 48,258us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet

Computer equipment

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization for physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

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-Section S99

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- Definition

Amount before accumulated depreciation of building structures held for productive use including addition, improvement, or renovation to the structure, including, but not limited to, interior masonry, interior flooring, electrical, and plumbing.

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- Definition

Amount before accumulated amortization of capitalized costs for computer software, including but not limited to, acquired and internally developed computer software.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 985

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- Definition

Amount before accumulated depreciation of equipment commonly used in offices and stores that have no permanent connection to the structure of a building or utilities. Examples include, but are not limited to, desks, chairs, tables, and bookcases.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount before accumulated depletion of real estate held for productive use, excluding land held for sale.

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- Definition

Amount before accumulated depreciation of additions or improvements to assets held under a lease arrangement.

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- Definition

Amount before accumulated depreciation of tangible personal property used to produce goods and services, including, but is not limited to, tools, dies and molds, computer and office equipment.

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Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

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