Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantor and Subsidiary Non- Guarantor - Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
REVENUE	$ 656,896	$ 632,803	$ 1,957,853	$ 1,866,441
COST OF SERVICES	307,699	284,406	906,687	832,229
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES	231,905	216,450	698,133	660,707
OPERATING INCOME	117,292	131,947	353,033	373,505
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest Expense, net of interest income	(71,861)	(67,342)	(194,548)	(203,485)
Subsidiary Income
Other	(9,792)	(4,314)	(8,753)	1,498
Other income (expense)	(81,653)	(71,656)	(203,301)	(201,987)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE	35,639	60,291	149,732	171,518
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)	13,543	22,944	56,898	65,213
NET INCOME	22,096	37,347	92,834	106,305
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	3,893	(14,254)	411	(4,194)
Reclassification of a cash flow hedge into earnings, net of tax	(970)	1,297	(3,237)	5,188
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges net of tax	1,550	2,059	5,150	4,213
Comprehensive income - West Corporation	26,569	26,449	95,158	111,512
Parent / Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES	2,003	(4,716)	5,268	(1,407)
OPERATING INCOME	(2,003)	4,716	(5,268)	1,407
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest Expense, net of interest income	(47,961)	(41,390)	(129,092)	(123,141)
Subsidiary Income	62,351	71,178	178,219	206,684
Other	(8,806)	(4,304)	(5,063)	(1,306)
Other income (expense)	5,584	25,484	44,064	82,237
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE	3,581	30,200	38,796	83,644
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)	(18,515)	(7,147)	(54,038)	(22,661)
NET INCOME	22,096	37,347	92,834	106,305
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	3,893	(14,254)	411	(4,194)
Reclassification of a cash flow hedge into earnings, net of tax	(970)	1,297	(3,237)	5,188
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges net of tax	1,550	2,059	5,150	4,213
Comprehensive income - West Corporation	26,569	26,449	95,158	111,512
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
REVENUE	519,952	501,959	1,544,968	1,474,031
COST OF SERVICES	247,192	228,342	729,274	668,750
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES	197,144	182,474	580,880	545,265
OPERATING INCOME	75,616	91,143	234,814	260,016
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest Expense, net of interest income	(28,811)	(29,816)	(78,989)	(90,792)
Subsidiary Income	34,019	25,569	84,684	81,446
Other	4,498	3,032	12,451	13,940
Other income (expense)	9,706	(1,215)	18,146	4,594
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE	85,322	89,928	252,960	264,610
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)	23,017	19,674	76,583	58,569
NET INCOME	62,305	70,254	176,377	206,041
Comprehensive income - West Corporation	62,305	70,254	176,377	206,041
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
REVENUE	136,944	130,844	412,885	392,410
COST OF SERVICES	60,507	56,064	177,413	163,479
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES	32,758	38,692	111,985	116,849
OPERATING INCOME	43,679	36,088	123,487	112,082
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest Expense, net of interest income	4,911	3,864	13,533	10,448
Other	(5,484)	(3,042)	(16,141)	(11,136)
Other income (expense)	(573)	822	(2,608)	(688)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE	43,106	36,910	120,879	111,394
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)	9,041	10,417	34,353	29,305
NET INCOME	34,065	26,493	86,526	82,089
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	3,893	(14,254)	411	(4,194)
Comprehensive income - West Corporation	37,958	12,239	86,937	77,895
Eliminations and Consolidating Entries [Member]
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Subsidiary Income	(96,370)	(96,747)	(262,903)	(288,130)
Other income (expense)	(96,370)	(96,747)	(262,903)	(288,130)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE	(96,370)	(96,747)	(262,903)	(288,130)
NET INCOME	(96,370)	(96,747)	(262,903)	(288,130)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(3,893)	14,254	(411)	4,194
Comprehensive income - West Corporation	$ (100,263)	$ (82,493)	$ (263,314)	$ (283,936)