FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Hanford Timothy   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC [ECPG] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 8875 AERO DRIVE, #200 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 08/24/2007 (Street) SAN DIEGO, CA 92123 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 08/24/2007   A   6,900 (1) A $ 0 6,900 D   Common Stock               5,737,032 I By Limited Parntership (2)

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Hanford Timothy 8875 AERO DRIVE, #200 SAN DIEGO, CA 92123	X

Signatures

/s/ Robin R. Pruitt, Attorney-in-Fact for Timothy Hanford		08/27/2007
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Grant to the reporting person on August 24, 2007 of deferred issuance restricted stock units ("RSUs") under the Encore Capital Group, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan in connection with his service as a member of Encore's board of directors. Each RSU represents the right to receive one share of Encore's common stock. The RSUs are subject to vesting. 50% of the RSUs will vest on September 23, 2008 and the remaining 50% will vest on August 23, 2009.
(2)	Reflects shares of Encore Capital Group, Inc.'s common stock held by JCF FPK I LP. By way of his position as investment co-head of FPK Capital and his interest in Fox-Pitt Kelton Limited, a limited partner of JCF FPK I LP, Mr. Hanford may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares through his pecuniary interest in JCF FPK I LP. Mr. Hanford disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares in excess of his pecuniary interest therein.

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