Other Charges - Operating Expenses Other Charges - Operating Expenses (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) store	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) store	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) store
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Other		$ (12,724)	$ 2,185
Restructuring cash charges		3,779	8,021	$ 4,569
Loss from Catastrophes		5,400
Start-up and Decommissioning Costs				2,800
Impairment of intangible asset		3,900	0
Write-down of Capitalized Software		18,205	0
Other charges		59,219	20,299	20,651
Hurricane Harvey and Irma [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Loss from Catastrophes		2,100
Hurricane Maria [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Loss from Catastrophes		3,300
Labor reduction costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges		1,674	1,393	3,340
Lease obligation costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges		2,105	6,628	1,229
Other miscellaneous [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges		0	0	0
2017 Acceptance Now Consolidation Plan [Member] | Acceptance Now [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Pretax other charges		19,200
Impairment of intangible asset		$ 3,900
2017 Field Support Center Restructuring Plan [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Head count reduction as percent of total workforce		10.00%
2017 Field Support Center Restructuring Plan [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Labor reduction costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges		$ 3,400
2016 US Core Store and Acceptance Now Consolidation Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Pretax other charges			$ 20,100
2016 US Core Store and Acceptance Now Consolidation Plan [Member] | Acceptance Now [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores closed | store			96
2016 US Core Store and Acceptance Now Consolidation Plan [Member] | Core Us [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores closed | store			167
2015 US Core Store Consolidation Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Pretax other charges				$ 4,300
2015 US Core Store Consolidation Plan [Member] | Core Us [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores closed | store				65
2016 Mexico Store Consolidation Plan [Member] | Mexico [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores closed | store			14	34
Pretax other charges	$ 2,300			$ 3,000
2015 Sale of Stores to Franchisee [Member] | Core Us [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores closed | store				40
Pretax other charges				$ 7,200
2015 Sale of Stores to Canada [Member] | Core Us [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores closed | store				14
Pretax other charges				$ 300
2015 Other Sale of Stores [Member] | Core Us [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Pretax other charges				1,100
2015 Field Support Center Restructuring Plan [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Labor reduction costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges				$ 2,000
Payments [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring payments		(9,187)	$ (14,581)
Payments [Member] | Labor reduction costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring payments		(3,484)	(3,327)
Payments [Member] | Lease obligation costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring payments		(4,980)	(9,799)
Payments [Member] | Other miscellaneous [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring payments		(723)	(1,455)
Restructuring charges [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges		4,945	18,033
Restructuring charges [Member] | Labor reduction costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges		3,765	1,380
Restructuring charges [Member] | Lease obligation costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges		457	15,198
Restructuring charges [Member] | Other miscellaneous [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring cash charges		723	1,455
Non-Cash Charges [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Rental merchandise losses		18,417	287
Other, net		0	673
Loss on sale of fixed assets		$ 1,032	$ 3,491
Manned Location [Member] | 2017 Acceptance Now Consolidation Plan [Member] | Acceptance Now [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores closed | store		319
Direct Location [Member] | 2017 Acceptance Now Consolidation Plan [Member] | Acceptance Now [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of stores closed | store		9