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 __X__ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 8875 AERO DRIVE, #200 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 07/01/2008 (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 07/01/2008(1)   A   3,110 A $ 0 13,117 (2) D   Common Stock               5,737,032 (3) I By Limited Partnership

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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	X

Signatures

/s/ J. Brandon Black, Attorney-in-Fact for Timothy Hanford		07/03/2008
**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)	On July 1, 2008, Encore issued 3,110 deferred issance restricted stock units ("RSUs") to Mr. Hanford under the Encore 2005 Stock Incentive Plan in connection with Mr. Hanford's service on Encore's board of directors.
(2)	These shares are in the form of RSUs held by Mr. Hanford as a nominee for Fox-Pitt, Kelton Limited. Each RSU represents the right to receive one share of Encore common stock upon settlement. 3,450 of these RSUs will vest on September 23, 2008. Another 3,450 of these RSUs will vest on August 23, 2009. The remaining 6,217 of these RSUs are fully vested. Mr. Hanford disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares in excess of his pecuniary interest therein.
(3)	Reflects shares of Encore's common stock held by JCF FPK I LP. By way of his position as investment co-head of FPK Capital and his interst 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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