2.2.0.7falseBusiness and Basis of Presentation (Policies)0401 - Disclosure - Business and Basis of Presentation (Policies)truefalsefalsefalse1USDfalsefalseUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0$20wu_BusinessAndBasisOfPresentationPoliciesAbstractwufalsenadurationBusiness And Basis Of Presentation Policies.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringBusiness And Basis Of Presentation Policies.false31us-gaap_NatureOfOperationsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabelfalse1falsefalsefalsefalse00
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<i><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Business</font></i>
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The Western Union Company (“Western Union” or the
“Company”) is a leader in global money transfer and
payment services, providing people and businesses with fast,
reliable and convenient ways to send money and make payments
around the world. The Western
Union<sup style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">®</sup>
brand is globally recognized. The Company’s services are
available through a network of agent locations in more than 200
countries and territories. Each location in the Company’s
agent network is capable of providing one or more of the
Company’s services.
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The Western Union business consists of the following segments:
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<td> </td>
<td> •  
</td>
<td align="left">
<font style="white-space: nowrap">Consumer-to-consumer—money</font>
transfer services between consumers, primarily through a global
network of third-party agents using the Company’s
multi-currency, real-time money transfer processing systems.
This service is available for international cross-border
transfers—that is, the transfer of funds from one country
to another—and, in certain countries, intra-country
transfers—that is, money transfers from one location to
another in the same country.
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<td> •  
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Global business payments—the processing of payments from
consumers or businesses to other businesses. The Company’s
business payments services allow consumers to make payments to a
variety of organizations including utilities, auto finance
companies, mortgage servicers, financial service providers,
government agencies and other businesses. As described further
in Note 4, in September 2009, the Company acquired
Canada-based Custom House, Ltd. (“Custom House”), a
provider of international
<font style="white-space: nowrap">business-to-business</font>
payment services, which is included in this segment. Custom
House facilitates cross-border, cross-currency payment
transactions. While the Company continues to pursue further
international expansion of its offerings in this segment, the
majority of the segment’s revenue was generated in the
United States during all periods presented.
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All businesses that have not been classified into the
<font style="white-space: nowrap">consumer-to-consumer</font>
or global business payments segments are reported as
“Other” and primarily include the Company’s money
order services business.
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There are legal or regulatory limitations on transferring
certain assets of the Company outside of the countries where
these assets are located, or which constitute undistributed
earnings of affiliates of the Company accounted for under the
equity method of accounting. However, there are generally no
limitations on the use of these assets within those countries.
Additionally, the Company must meet minimum capital requirements
in some countries in order to maintain operating licenses. As of
June 30, 2010, the amount of net assets subject to these
limitations totaled nearly $190 million.
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Various aspects of the Company’s services and businesses
are subject to United States federal, state and local
regulation, as well as regulation by foreign jurisdictions,
including certain banking and other financial services
regulations.
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-Publisher AICPA
-Name Statement of Position (SOP)
-Number 94-6
-Paragraph 10
false41wu_BasisOfPresentationTextBlockwufalsenadurationDescription of the basis of accounting used to prepare the financial statements (for example, U.S. Generally Accepted...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabelfalse1falsefalsefalsefalse00
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<i><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Basis of
Presentation</font></i>
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The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are
unaudited and were prepared in accordance with the instructions
for
<font style="white-space: nowrap">Form 10-Q</font>
and Article 10 of
<font style="white-space: nowrap">Regulation S-X.</font>
In compliance with those instructions, certain information and
footnote disclosures normally included in annual consolidated
financial statements prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States of America
(“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted.
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The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in
this quarterly report are presented on a consolidated basis and
include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned
subsidiaries. Results of
operations and cash flows for the interim periods are not
necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for
the entire year. All significant intercompany transactions and
accounts have been eliminated.
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<div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff">
In the opinion of management, these condensed consolidated
financial statements include all the normal recurring
adjustments necessary to fairly present the Company’s
condensed consolidated results of operations, financial position
and cash flows as of June 30, 2010 and for all periods
presented. These condensed consolidated financial statements
should be read in conjunction with the Company’s
consolidated financial statements within the Company’s
Annual Report on
<font style="white-space: nowrap">Form 10-K</font>
for the year ended December 31, 2009.
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<div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff">
Consistent with industry practice, the accompanying Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets are unclassified due to the
short-term nature of Western Union’s settlement obligations
contrasted with the Company’s ability to invest cash
awaiting settlement in long-term investment securities.
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<i><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Use of
Estimates</font></i>
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The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and
accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these
estimates.
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<!-- Begin Block Taggedfalsefalsefalseus-types:textBlockItemTypetextblockProvides an entity's explanation that the preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the use of management estimates.No authoritative reference available.false61us-gaap_CostsAssociatedWithExitOrDisposalActivitiesOrRestructuringsPolicyTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabelfalse1falsefalsefalsefalse00
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<i><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Restructuring
and Related Expenses</font></i>
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<div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt"> 
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<div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff">
The Company records severance-related expenses once they are
both probable and estimable in accordance with the provisions of
the applicable accounting guidance for severance provided under
an ongoing benefit arrangement. One-time, involuntary benefit
arrangements and other exit costs are generally recognized when
the liability is incurred. The Company also evaluates impairment
issues associated with restructuring activities when the
carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable, in
accordance with the appropriate accounting guidance.
Restructuring and related expenses consist of direct and
incremental expenses associated with restructuring and related
activities, including severance, outplacement and other employee
related benefits; facility closure and migration of the
Company’s IT infrastructure; and other expenses related to
the relocation of various operations to new or existing Company
facilities and third-party providers, including hiring,
training, relocation, travel and professional fees. Also
included in the facility closure expenses are non-cash expenses
related to fixed asset and leasehold improvement write-offs and
the acceleration of depreciation. For more information on the
Company’s restructuring and related expenses see
Note 3.
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 146
-Paragraph 20
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4
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<i><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Consolidation
of Variable Interest Entities</font></i>
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<div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt"> 
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<div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff">
On January 1, 2010, the Company adopted new accounting
standards for the consolidation of variable interest entities.
These new accounting standards amend the evaluation criteria to
determine whether an enterprise has a controlling financial
interest in a variable interest entity. This determination
identifies the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity
as the enterprise that has both the power to direct the
activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly
impacts the entity’s economic performance and the ability
to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the entity
that could potentially be significant to the variable interest
entity. The new guidance also requires an ongoing reassessment
of the primary beneficiary. Adoption of these new requirements
did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
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