Restructuring charges (restructuring accruals by company initiative and segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Restructuring accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	$ 6,798		$ 11,492		$ 20,379
Restructuring charges	8,878		10,264		11,802
Restructuring reversals	(1,743)		(2,778)		(3,555)
Inter-segment transfer	0				0
Payments	(7,901)		(12,180)		(17,134)
Balance, ending	6,032		6,798		11,492
Components of restructuring accrual, cumulative amounts [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, cumulative amount	105,366
Restructuring reversals, cumulative amount	(13,523)
Payments, cumulative amount	(85,811)
Balance, ending	6,032		6,798		11,492
Small Business Services [Member] | Employee Severance Benefits [Member]
Restructuring accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	1,248		4,745		3,974
Restructuring charges	1,897		1,807		5,310
Restructuring reversals	(767)		(875)		(672)
Inter-segment transfer	125				1,174
Payments	(1,616)		(4,429)		(5,041)
Balance, ending	887		1,248		4,745
Components of restructuring accrual, cumulative amounts [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, cumulative amount	48,403
Restructuring reversals, cumulative amount	(3,371)
Inter-segment transfer, cumulative amount	2,310
Payments, cumulative amount	(46,455)
Balance, ending	887		1,248		4,745
Small Business Services [Member] | Operating Lease Obligations [Member]
Restructuring accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	236		797		228
Restructuring charges	52		424		1,177
Restructuring reversals	(6)		(380)		(32)
Inter-segment transfer	0				0
Payments	(213)		(605)		(576)
Balance, ending	69		236		797
Components of restructuring accrual, cumulative amounts [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, cumulative amount	4,780
Restructuring reversals, cumulative amount	(970)
Inter-segment transfer, cumulative amount	0
Payments, cumulative amount	(3,741)
Balance, ending	69		236		797
Financial Services [Member] | Employee Severance Benefits [Member]
Restructuring accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	1,954		1,053		3,617
Restructuring charges	2,640		2,134		1,063
Restructuring reversals	(517)		(206)		(674)
Inter-segment transfer	234				0
Payments	(2,914)		(1,027)		(2,953)
Balance, ending	1,397		1,954		1,053
Components of restructuring accrual, cumulative amounts [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, cumulative amount	13,726
Restructuring reversals, cumulative amount	(2,438)
Inter-segment transfer, cumulative amount	1,351
Payments, cumulative amount	(11,242)
Balance, ending	1,397		1,954		1,053
Direct Checks [Member] | Employee Severance Benefits [Member]
Restructuring accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	252		116		151
Restructuring charges	823		2,344		134
Restructuring reversals	(76)		(116)		(7)
Inter-segment transfer	2				0
Payments	(257)		(2,092)		(162)
Balance, ending	744		252		116
Components of restructuring accrual, cumulative amounts [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, cumulative amount	3,770
Restructuring reversals, cumulative amount	(343)
Inter-segment transfer, cumulative amount	95
Payments, cumulative amount	(2,778)
Balance, ending	744		252		116
Direct Checks [Member] | Operating Lease Obligations [Member]
Restructuring accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	492		0		0
Restructuring charges	0		509		0
Restructuring reversals	0		0		0
Inter-segment transfer	0				0
Payments	(204)		(17)		0
Balance, ending	288		492		0
Components of restructuring accrual, cumulative amounts [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, cumulative amount	509
Restructuring reversals, cumulative amount	0
Inter-segment transfer, cumulative amount	0
Payments, cumulative amount	(221)
Balance, ending	288		492		0
Corporate [Member] | Employee Severance Benefits [Member]
Restructuring accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	2,616	[1]	4,781	[1]	12,409	[1]
Restructuring charges	3,466	[1]	3,046	[1]	4,118	[1]
Restructuring reversals	(377)	[1]	(1,201)	[1]	(2,170)	[1]
Inter-segment transfer	(361)	[1]			(1,174)	[1]
Payments	(2,697)	[1]	(4,010)	[1]	(8,402)	[1]
Balance, ending	2,647	[1]	2,616	[1]	4,781	[1]
Components of restructuring accrual, cumulative amounts [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, cumulative amount	34,178	[1]
Restructuring reversals, cumulative amount	(6,401)	[1]
Inter-segment transfer, cumulative amount	(3,756)	[1]
Payments, cumulative amount	(21,374)	[1]
Balance, ending	2,647	[1]	2,616	[1]	4,781	[1]
NEBS acquisition related and Fiscal 2006 Initiatives [Member]
Restructuring accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	0		0		214
Restructuring charges	0		0		0
Restructuring reversals	0		0		(19)
Payments	0		0		(195)
Balance, ending	0		0		0
Components of restructuring accrual, cumulative amounts [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, cumulative amount	41,107
Restructuring reversals, cumulative amount	(2,530)
Balance, ending	0		0		0
2007 Initiatives [Member]
Restructuring accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	0		64		335
Restructuring charges	0		0		0
Restructuring reversals	0		(64)		(34)
Payments	0		0		(237)
Balance, ending	0		0		64
Components of restructuring accrual, cumulative amounts [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, cumulative amount	7,181
Restructuring reversals, cumulative amount	(1,503)
Balance, ending	0		0		64
2008 Initiatives [Member]
Restructuring accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	117		2,175		19,830
Restructuring charges	0		525		886
Restructuring reversals	(17)		(985)		(3,354)
Payments	(100)		(1,598)		(15,187)
Balance, ending	0		117		2,175
Components of restructuring accrual, cumulative amounts [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, cumulative amount	27,545
Restructuring reversals, cumulative amount	(5,887)
Balance, ending	0		117		2,175
2009 Initiatives [Member]
Restructuring accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	652		9,253		0
Restructuring charges	9		99		10,916
Restructuring reversals	(57)		(1,465)		(148)
Payments	(420)		(7,235)		(1,515)
Balance, ending	184		652		9,253
Components of restructuring accrual, cumulative amounts [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, cumulative amount	11,024
Restructuring reversals, cumulative amount	(1,670)
Balance, ending	184		652		9,253
2010 Initiatives [Member]
Restructuring accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	6,029		0		0
Restructuring charges	75		9,640		0
Restructuring reversals	(1,058)		(264)		0
Payments	(4,265)		(3,347)		0
Balance, ending	781		6,029		0
Components of restructuring accrual, cumulative amounts [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, cumulative amount	9,715
Restructuring reversals, cumulative amount	(1,322)
Balance, ending	781		6,029		0
2011 Initiatives [Member]
Restructuring accrual [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	0		0		0
Restructuring charges	8,794		0		0
Restructuring reversals	(611)		0		0
Payments	(3,116)		0		0
Balance, ending	5,067		0		0
Components of restructuring accrual, cumulative amounts [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, cumulative amount	8,794
Restructuring reversals, cumulative amount	(611)
Balance, ending	$ 5,067		$ 0		$ 0

[1] As discussed in Note 16: Business segment information, corporate costs are allocated to our business segments. As such, the net corporate restructuring charges are reflected in the business segment operating income presented in Note 16 in accordance with our allocation methodology.