Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Discontinued Operations	Discontinued Operations—On March 3, 2015, we divested several of our agent-based businesses, including our consumer facing customer sales and lifecycle management, account services and receivables management businesses, for $275.0 million in cash. We completed the divestiture pursuant to a purchase agreement executed January 7, 2015 and in accordance with a plan approved by our Board of Directors on December 30, 2014.
Basis of Consolidation	Basis of Consolidation—The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of West and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and reflect all adjustments (all of which are normal recurring accruals), which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the interim periods. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, together with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. Our results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of what our results will be for other interim periods or for the full fiscal year.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition—Revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Amounts billed in advance of providing service are deferred and recorded as deferred revenue or other long-term liabilities on the balance sheet until service has been provided.
Dividend	Dividend—We funded the dividends paid in 2015 and the first six months of 2016 with cash generated by our operations and we anticipate funding future dividends with cash generated by our operations. The declaration and payment of all future dividends, if any, will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors. On each of March 3, 2016 and May 26, 2016, we paid a $0.225 per common share quarterly dividend. The total dividend paid was approximately $18.8 million and $18.6 million to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 22, 2016 and May 16, 2016, respectively. On August 1, 2016, we announced a $0.225 per common share quarterly dividend. The dividend is payable September 1, 2016 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 22, 2016.
Share Repurchase	Share Repurchase—Under a share repurchase program approved by the Company’s Board of Directors during the first quarter of 2016 authorizing the repurchase of up to an aggregate of $75 million of outstanding common stock, the Company purchased 1,000,000 shares of common stock through the open market during the first six months of 2016 for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $22.0 million, which was funded with cash on hand.
Assets Held for Sale	Assets Held for Sale—On June 21, 2016, we completed the sale of land, buildings and improvements which were previously classified as held for sale and primarily used by the agent-based businesses we divested in 2015. Proceeds from the sale were $38.8 million, excluding related expenses. In connection with this sale, we realized a pre-tax gain of approximately $19.0 million. We also entered into a twelve year leaseback agreement for one of the buildings. This lease is classified as an operating lease and the related $6.1 million gain, included in the $19.0 million realized gain, is being deferred and will be recognized over the lease term.
Recently Implemented Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Implemented Accounting Pronouncements—In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2015-03, Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. This ASU requires capitalized debt issuance costs to be presented as a reduction to the carrying value of debt instead of being classified as a deferred charge, as previously required. This ASU became effective for interim and annual reporting periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those annual periods. We adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2016, and as a result have recast the December 31, 2015 consolidated balance sheet to conform to the current period presentation. The adoption of this standard reduced previously presented other assets and long-term debt by $57.1 million each, based upon the balance of unamortized debt issuance costs relating to our senior secured term loan facilities and senior notes recorded as of December 31, 2015. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-017, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, which changes the presentation of deferred income taxes in the balance sheet. Under the new guidance, deferred tax assets and liabilities will be classified as non-current in the balance sheet. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The new guidance allows for prospective or retrospective application and early adoption is permitted. We adopted this guidance as of April 1, 2016, and elected retrospective application recasting the December 31, 2015 consolidated balance sheet to conform to the current period presentation. The adoption of this standard reduced previously presented accrued expenses and increased deferred income taxes by $1.7 million each, as of December 31, 2015.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements—In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326). The amendments in this update will require a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured on an amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. This amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Adoption of this update is required through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained deficit as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective (that is, a modified-retrospective approach). The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of this standard on its financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718). The amendments in this update will simplify several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. This amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of this standard on its financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The amendments in this update will increase the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. ASU 2016-02 is required to be applied with a modified retrospective approach to each prior reporting period presented. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact of this standard on its financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires companies to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard will become effective for the Company beginning with the first quarter of 2018 and can be adopted either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact and adoption transition options of this standard on its financial statements.