Finance Receivables (Details 6) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Finance receivables by performing and nonperforming by type
Net finance receivables		$ 11,696,727				$ 13,016,119				$ 14,327,857	$ 11,696,727	$ 13,016,119
Finance charges	178,807	413,496	416,855	411,936	441,175	458,319	461,877	468,072	471,224	1,653,047	1,683,462	1,859,492
Personal Loans
Finance receivables by performing and nonperforming by type
Net finance receivables		2,649,732				2,682,011					2,649,732	2,682,011
Retail Sales Finance
Finance receivables by performing and nonperforming by type
Net finance receivables		208,357				369,802					208,357	369,802
Real Estate Loans
Finance receivables by performing and nonperforming by type
Net finance receivables		8,838,638				9,843,878					8,838,638	9,843,878
Other
Finance receivables by performing and nonperforming by type
Net finance receivables						120,428						120,428
Performing
Finance receivables by performing and nonperforming by type
Net finance receivables		11,080,508				12,336,078					11,080,508	12,336,078
Performing | Personal Loans
Finance receivables by performing and nonperforming by type
Net finance receivables		2,596,424				2,632,079					2,596,424	2,632,079
Performing | Retail Sales Finance
Finance receivables by performing and nonperforming by type
Net finance receivables		204,696				360,910					204,696	360,910
Performing | Real Estate Loans
Finance receivables by performing and nonperforming by type
Net finance receivables		8,279,388				9,227,132					8,279,388	9,227,132
Performing | Other
Finance receivables by performing and nonperforming by type
Net finance receivables						115,957						115,957
Nonperforming
Finance receivables by performing and nonperforming by type
Net finance receivables		616,219				680,041					616,219	680,041
Finance charges											35,500	40,700
Nonperforming | Personal Loans
Finance receivables by performing and nonperforming by type
Net finance receivables		53,308				49,932					53,308	49,932
Nonperforming | Retail Sales Finance
Finance receivables by performing and nonperforming by type
Net finance receivables		3,661				8,892					3,661	8,892
Nonperforming | Real Estate Loans
Finance receivables by performing and nonperforming by type
Net finance receivables		559,250				616,746					559,250	616,746
Nonperforming | Other
Finance receivables by performing and nonperforming by type
Net finance receivables						$ 4,471						$ 4,471