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USD iso4217 0 $ 5 Borrowings [Abstract] 3 wu_BorrowingAbstract wu false na duration Borrowings. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false 8 false false false false 0 0 true false false 9 false false false false 0 0 true false false 10 false false false false 0 0 true false false 11 false false false false 0 0 true false false 12 false false false false 0 0 true false false 13 false false false false 0 0 true false false 14 false false false false 0 0 true false false 15 false false false false 0 0 true false false 16 false false false false 0 0 true false false 17 false false false false 0 0 true false false 18 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:stringItemType string Borrowings. false 6 Total borrowings at par value 4 wu_LongTermDebtParValue wu false credit instant Including current and noncurrent par value amounts of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date. 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May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. No authoritative reference available. false 7 Fair value hedge accounting adjustments, net 4 us-gaap_DeferredGainLossOnDiscontinuationOfFairValueHedge us-gaap true debit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false true negated false 1 false true false false 44500000 44500000 [5] false false false 2 false true false false 47100000 47100000 [5] false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false 8 false false false false 0 0 true false false 9 false false false false 0 0 true false false 10 false false false false 0 0 true false false 11 false false false false 0 0 true false false 12 false false false false 0 0 true false false 13 false false false false 0 0 true false false 14 false false false false 0 0 true false false 15 false false false false 0 0 true false false 16 false false false false 0 0 true false false 17 false false false false 0 0 true false false 18 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Amount as of the balance sheet date of the unamortized adjustment to the carrying value of an interest-bearing hedged item made under an effective fair value hedge that must be amortized upon discontinuation of the fair value hedge. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 24 false 8 Unamortized discount, net 4 wu_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremNet wu false debit instant The amount of debt discount (net of debt premium) that has yet to be amortized. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false -25200000 -25200000 [1] false false false 2 false true false false -4600000 -4600000 [1] false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false 8 false false false false 0 0 true false false 9 false false false false 0 0 true false false 10 false false false false 0 0 true false false 11 false false false false 0 0 true false false 12 false false false false 0 0 true false false 13 false false false false 0 0 true false false 14 false false false false 0 0 true false false 15 false false false false 0 0 true false false 16 false false false false 0 0 true false false 17 false false false false 0 0 true false false 18 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The amount of debt discount (net of debt premium) that has yet to be amortized. No authoritative reference available. true 9 Total borrowings at carrying value 4 us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 3296500000 3296500000 [6] false false false 2 false true false false 3048500000 3048500000 [6] false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false 8 false false false false 0 0 true false false 9 false false false false 0 0 true false false 10 false false false false 0 0 true false false 11 false false false false 0 0 true false false 12 false false false false 0 0 true false false 13 false false false false 0 0 true false false 14 false false false false 0 0 true false false 15 false false false false 0 0 true false false 16 false false false false 0 0 true false false 17 false false false false 0 0 true false false 18 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations. No authoritative reference available. true 10 Borrowings (Numeric) [Abstract] 3 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentsAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false 8 false false false false 0 0 true false false 9 false false false false 0 0 true false false 10 false false false false 0 0 true false false 11 false false false false 0 0 true false false 12 false false false false 0 0 true false false 13 false false false false 0 0 true false false 14 false false false false 0 0 true false false 15 false false false false 0 0 true false false 16 false false false false 0 0 true false false 17 false false false false 0 0 true false false 18 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 11 Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 4 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage us-gaap true na instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 0.054 0.054 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false true false false 0.065 0.065 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false 8 false true false false 0.0593 0.0593 true false false 9 false false false false 0 0 true false false 10 false true false false 0.05253 0.05253 true false false 11 false false false false 0 0 true false false 12 false true false false 0.062 0.062 true false false 13 false false false false 0 0 true false false 14 false true false false 0.062 0.062 true false false 15 false false false false 0 0 true false false 16 false false false false 0 0 true false false 17 false false false false 0 0 true false false 18 false false false false 0 0 true false false us-types:percentItemType pure Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 false 12 Total borrowings at par value 4 wu_LongTermDebtParValue wu false credit instant Including current and noncurrent par value amounts of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date. 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May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Effective rate of notes due 4 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage us-gaap true na instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false true false false 0.028 0.028 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false 8 false false false false 0 0 true false false 9 false false false false 0 0 true false false 10 false true false false 0.057 0.057 true false false 11 false false false false 0 0 true false false 12 false false false false 0 0 true false false 13 false false false false 0 0 true false false 14 false true false false 0.063 0.063 true false false 15 false false false false 0 0 true false false 16 false false false false 0 0 true false false 17 false false false false 0 0 true false false 18 false false false false 0 0 true false false us-types:percentItemType pure Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 false 14 Debt, Principal Amount 4 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false true false false 303700000 303700000 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false 8 false false false false 0 0 true false false 9 false false false false 0 0 true false false 10 false false false false 0 0 true false false 11 false false false false 0 0 true false false 12 false false false false 0 0 true false false 13 false false false false 0 0 true false false 14 false false false false 0 0 true false false 15 false true false false 250000000 250000000 true false false 16 false false false false 0 0 true false false 17 false false false false 0 0 true false false 18 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date before deducting unamortized discount or premiums (if any). May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number APB14-1 -Paragraph 31 -Subparagraph b Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 false 15 Debt Exchange Premium 4 wu_DebtExchangeUnamortizedPrem wu false credit instant The amount of debt premium that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false 8 false false false false 0 0 true false false 9 false false false false 0 0 true false false 10 false true false false 21200000 21200000 true false false 11 false false false false 0 0 true false false 12 false false false false 0 0 true false false 13 false false false false 0 0 true false false 14 false false false false 0 0 true false false 15 false false false false 0 0 true false false 16 false false false false 0 0 true false false 17 false false false false 0 0 true false false 18 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The amount of debt premium that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument. No authoritative reference available. false 16 Loss on interest rate swaps recorded in "Accumulated other comprehensive loss" 4 us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet us-gaap true credit duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false 8 false false false false 0 0 true false false 9 false false false false 0 0 true false false 10 false false false false 0 0 true false false 11 false false false false 0 0 true false false 12 false false false false 0 0 true false false 13 false false false false 0 0 true false false 14 false true false false 7500000 7500000 true false false 15 false false false false 0 0 true false false 16 false false false false 0 0 true false false 17 false false false false 0 0 true false false 18 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The effective portion of gains and losses (net) on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments that was recognized in other comprehensive income during the current period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 205G Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 44C -Subparagraph b -Clause 2 false 17 Weighted average effective rate on total borrowings 4 wu_WeightedAverageEffectiveRateOnTotalBorrowings wu false na instant Weighted average effective rate on total borrowings. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 0.053 0.053 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false 8 false false false false 0 0 true false false 9 false false false false 0 0 true false false 10 false false false false 0 0 true false false 11 false false false false 0 0 true false false 12 false false false false 0 0 true false false 13 false false false false 0 0 true false false 14 false false false false 0 0 true false false 15 false false false false 0 0 true false false 16 false false false false 0 0 true false false 17 false false false false 0 0 true false false 18 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:pureItemType pure Weighted average effective rate on total borrowings. No authoritative reference available. false 18 Aggregate fair value of debt 4 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 3535200000 3535200000 false false false 2 false true false false 3211300000 3211300000 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false 8 false false false false 0 0 true false false 9 false false false false 0 0 true false false 10 false false false false 0 0 true false false 11 false false false false 0 0 true false false 12 false false false false 0 0 true false false 13 false false false false 0 0 true false false 14 false false false false 0 0 true false false 15 false false false false 0 0 true false false 16 false false false false 0 0 true false false 17 false false false false 0 0 true false false 18 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Estimated fair value of the debt instrument at the balance-sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 107 -Paragraph 10 false 19 Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two 4 us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 700000000 700000000 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false 8 false false false false 0 0 true false false 9 false false false false 0 0 true false false 10 false false false false 0 0 true false false 11 false false false false 0 0 true false false 12 false false false false 0 0 true false false 13 false false false false 0 0 true false false 14 false false false false 0 0 true false false 15 false false false false 0 0 true false false 16 false false false false 0 0 true false false 17 false false false false 0 0 true false false 18 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Amount of long-term debt maturing in year two following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, which may include maturities of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed or determinable prices and dates. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 47 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph b false 20 Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five 4 us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 500000000 500000000 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false 8 false false false false 0 0 true false false 9 false false false false 0 0 true false false 10 false false false false 0 0 true false false 11 false false false false 0 0 true false false 12 false false false false 0 0 true false false 13 false false false false 0 0 true false false 14 false false false false 0 0 true false false 15 false false false false 0 0 true false false 16 false false false false 0 0 true false false 17 false false false false 0 0 true false false 18 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Amount of long-term debt maturing in year five following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, which may include maturities of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed of determinable prices and dates. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 47 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph b false 21 Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five 4 us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 true true false false 2100000000 2100000000 false false false 2 false false false false 0 0 false false false 3 false false false false 0 0 true false false 4 false false false false 0 0 true false false 5 false false false false 0 0 true false false 6 false false false false 0 0 true false false 7 false false false false 0 0 true false false 8 false false false false 0 0 true false false 9 false false false false 0 0 true false false 10 false false false false 0 0 true false false 11 false false false false 0 0 true false false 12 false false false false 0 0 true false false 13 false false false false 0 0 true false false 14 false false false false 0 0 true false false 15 false false false false 0 0 true false false 16 false false false false 0 0 true false false 17 false false false false 0 0 true false false 18 false false false false 0 0 true false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Amount of long-term debt maturities after year five following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, which may include maturities of long-term debt, sinking fund requirements, and other securities redeemable at fixed of determinable prices and dates. 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No authoritative reference available. false 1 On March 30, 2010, the Company exchanged $303.7 million of aggregate principal amount of the 5.400% notes due 2011 ("2011 Notes") for 5.253% unsecured notes due 2020 ("2020 Notes"). The 5.7% effective interest rate of the 2020 Notes differs from the stated rate as the notes have a par value of $324.9 million. The $21.2 million premium is being accreted over the life of the 2020 Notes. See below for additional detail relating to the note exchange. 2 The effective interest rate related to the 2011 Notes includes the impact of the interest rate swaps entered into in conjunction with the assumption of the money order investments from IPS. 3 The difference between the stated interest rate and the effective interest rate is not significant 4 On June 21, 2010, the Company issued $250.0 million of aggregate principal amount of 6.200% Notes due 2040 (the "2040 Notes"). In anticipation of this issuance, the Company entered into interest rate swaps to fix the interest rate of the debt issuance, and recorded a loss on the swaps of $7.5 million, which increased the effective rate to 6.3%, in "Accumulated other comprehensive loss," which will be amortized into interest expense over the life of the 2040 Notes. See below for additional detail relating to the debt issuance. 5 The Company utilizes interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges to effectively change the interest rate payments on a portion of its notes from fixed-rate payments to short-term LIBOR-based variable rate payments in order to manage its overall exposure to interest rates. The changes in fair value of these interest rate swaps result in an offsetting hedge accounting adjustment recorded to the carrying value of the related note. These hedge accounting adjustments will be reclassified as reductions to "interest expense" over the life of the related notes, and cause the effective rate of interest to differ from the notes' stated rate. 6 At June 30, 2010, the Company's weighted average effective rate on total borrowings was 5.3%. 18 19 false NoRounding UnKnown UnKnown false true