Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 8) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss	$ (298.8)	$ (114.1)
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including amortization netted against equity earnings in affiliates and revenues)	302.1	349.4
(Gains) charges related to other operating expenses and other income (expense)	17.9	11.9
Other non-cash and non-operating items, net	(42.6)	(50.2)
(Decrease) increase in cash resulting from changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions and dispositions	90.6	(251.2)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	69.2	(54.2)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Contributions to equity method investments		(7.9)
Payments related to other businesses previously acquired		(3.2)
Additions to property and equipment	(44.6)	(47.6)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	3.6	1.1
Payments to secure customer service contracts, including outlays for conversion, and capitalized systems development costs	(46.0)	(54.2)
Other investing activities	2.4	0.9
Net cash used in investing activities	(84.6)	(110.9)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Short-term borrowings, net	(81.0)	52.9
Accrued interest funded upon issuance of notes		16.9
Debt modification proceeds and related financing costs, net	3.5	8.0
Principal payments on long-term debt	(18.9)	(15.8)
Distributions and dividends paid to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interest	(38.9)	(53.2)
Redemption of Parent's redeemable common stock	(4.8)	(0.1)
Cash dividends	(14.9)	(3.5)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(155.0)	5.2
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(3.6)	3.4
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(174.0)	(156.5)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	608.3	485.7
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	434.3	329.2
FDC Parent Company
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss	(337.4)	(152.5)
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including amortization netted against equity earnings in affiliates and revenues)	1.8	2.2
(Gains) charges related to other operating expenses and other income (expense)	(6.2)	25.5
Other non-cash and non-operating items, net	(61.1)	(117.0)
(Decrease) increase in cash resulting from changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions and dispositions	(54.5)	(246.0)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(457.4)	(487.8)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Additions to property and equipment	(0.1)	(0.1)
Payments to secure customer service contracts, including outlays for conversion, and capitalized systems development costs	(0.3)	(0.1)
Distributions and dividends from subsidiaries	39.1	20.0
Other investing activities	0.3	0.4
Net cash used in investing activities	39.0	20.2
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Short-term borrowings, net		79.0
Accrued interest funded upon issuance of notes		16.9
Debt modification proceeds and related financing costs, net	3.5	8.0
Principal payments on long-term debt	(0.1)	(0.1)
Redemption of Parent's redeemable common stock	(4.8)	(0.1)
Cash dividends	(14.9)	(3.5)
Intercompany	240.2	211.5
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	223.9	311.7
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(194.5)	(155.9)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	228.0	162.2
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	33.5	6.3
Guarantor Subsidiaries
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss	72.3	86.3
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including amortization netted against equity earnings in affiliates and revenues)	185.9	225.3
(Gains) charges related to other operating expenses and other income (expense)	0.7	(0.3)
Other non-cash and non-operating items, net	(95.4)	(90.6)
(Decrease) increase in cash resulting from changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions and dispositions	77.4	(5.9)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	240.9	214.8
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Contributions to equity method investments		(7.9)
Payments related to other businesses previously acquired		(3.2)
Additions to property and equipment	(23.7)	(30.0)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	3.6	1.1
Payments to secure customer service contracts, including outlays for conversion, and capitalized systems development costs	(37.4)	(45.3)
Distributions and dividends from subsidiaries	31.1	46.7
Other investing activities	1.2	0.2
Net cash used in investing activities	(25.2)	(38.4)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Principal payments on long-term debt	(16.1)	(11.1)
Intercompany	(199.0)	(178.1)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(215.1)	(189.2)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	5.4	(3.8)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	6.0	(16.6)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	37.2	37.1
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	43.2	20.5
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss	78.6	108.1
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including amortization netted against equity earnings in affiliates and revenues)	114.4	121.9
(Gains) charges related to other operating expenses and other income (expense)	23.4	(13.3)
Other non-cash and non-operating items, net	1.6	1.4
(Decrease) increase in cash resulting from changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions and dispositions	67.7	0.7
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	285.7	218.8
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Additions to property and equipment	(20.8)	(17.5)
Payments to secure customer service contracts, including outlays for conversion, and capitalized systems development costs	(8.3)	(8.8)
Other investing activities	0.9	0.3
Net cash used in investing activities	(28.2)	(26.0)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Short-term borrowings, net	(81.0)	(26.1)
Principal payments on long-term debt	(2.7)	(4.6)
Distributions and dividends paid to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interest	(8.8)	(9.9)
Distributions paid to equity holders	(61.2)	(88.0)
Cash dividends	(39.1)	(22.0)
Intercompany	(41.2)	(33.4)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(234.0)	(184.0)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(9.0)	7.2
Change in cash and cash equivalents	14.5	16.0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	343.1	286.4
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	357.6	302.4
Consolidation Adjustments
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss	(112.3)	(156.0)
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Other non-cash and non-operating items, net	112.3	156.0
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Distributions and dividends from subsidiaries	(70.2)	(66.7)
Net cash used in investing activities	(70.2)	(66.7)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Distributions and dividends paid to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interest	(30.1)	(43.3)
Distributions paid to equity holders	61.2	88.0
Cash dividends	39.1	22.0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	$ 70.2	$ 66.7