2.4.0.81100 - Disclosure - Commitments and contingenciestruefalsefalse1false falsefalseD2013Q2YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001362925duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:001true 1us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Commitments and contingencies2false 2us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureTextBlockus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> 10. Commitments and contingencies   Employment agreements   Pursuant to employment agreements with certain employees, the Company had a commitment to pay severance of approximately $1.6 million as of both June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 in the event of termination without cause, as defined in the agreements. Additionally, in the event of termination upon a change of control, as defined in the agreements, the Company had a commitment to pay severance of approximately $1.9 million as of both June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.   Contingent liabilities   In instances where the Company is acting as the merchant acquirer, the Company bears a risk that a merchant may engage in fraud by submitting for payment certain credit card transactions that may have been manipulated, are fictitious, or are otherwise not bona fide. Similarly, the Company bears the risk that a merchant becomes insolvent, owing money to cardholders. To the extent that such fraud or insolvency occurs in circumstances where the Company is liable to make good any resultant losses, this could affect the Company’s operating results and cash flows. The Company has required certain merchants to post cash reserves of approximately $0.2 million with the acquirer against such liabilities and has itself paid the acquirer a security deposit in connection therewith, as shown on the consolidated balance sheets. Under FASB ASC 460, Guarantees, the Company evaluates its ultimate risk and records an estimate of potential loss for chargeback’s related to merchant fraud based upon an assessment of actual historical fraud rates compared to recent bank card processing volume levels. No contingent liability has been recorded as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, as the risk of material loss is considered remote. The Company monitors this contingent liability on a quarterly basis and will provide for a reserve if deemed necessary.   Outstanding litigation   From time to time, the Company may be subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business. The Company currently has no legal proceedings pending against it. </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaThe entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 14 -Paragraph 3 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6449706&loc=d3e16207-108621 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6398077&loc=d3e12565-110249 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 440 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394976&loc=d3e25287-109308 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false0Commitments and contingenciesfalseCommitments and contingenciesUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.planetpayment.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingencies12