Income Taxes - Narratives (Details)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	39 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) subsidiary	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Operating Loss Carryforwards and Tax Credit Carryforwards [Line Items]
Valuation allowance		$ 2,694,000,000	$ 2,694,000,000	$ 1,694,000,000
Increase to valuation allowance		1,000,000,000
Provision for cumulative amount of temporary difference related to investments in foreign subsidiaries		0
Amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability related to investments in foreign subsidiaries		204,000,000	204,000,000
Unrecognized tax benefits on state income taxes		22,000,000	22,000,000
Unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the effective tax rate		$ 136,000,000	136,000,000	126,000,000	$ 161,000,000
Minimum number of subsidiaries which file income tax returns | subsidiary		1
Uncertain income tax liabilities		$ 249,000,000	249,000,000	236,000,000	$ 279,000,000	$ 286,000,000
Federal
Operating Loss Carryforwards and Tax Credit Carryforwards [Line Items]
Interest due (pretax)			23,000,000
Total taxes allegedly due	$ 59,000,000
Western Union Company
Operating Loss Carryforwards and Tax Credit Carryforwards [Line Items]
Income taxes payable		120,000,000	120,000,000
Uncertain income tax liabilities		4,000,000	4,000,000
Settlement with Taxing Authority
Operating Loss Carryforwards and Tax Credit Carryforwards [Line Items]
Reasonably possible that liability for unrecognized tax benefits may decrease		$ 124,000,000	124,000,000
Settlement with Taxing Authority | Federal
Operating Loss Carryforwards and Tax Credit Carryforwards [Line Items]
Examination tax due	40,000,000
Interest due (pretax)			21,000,000
Disputed tax examination with Taxing Authority | Federal
Operating Loss Carryforwards and Tax Credit Carryforwards [Line Items]
Interest due (pretax)			13,000,000
Total taxes allegedly due	40,000,000
Disputed tax examination with Taxing Authority | Western Union Company | Federal
Operating Loss Carryforwards and Tax Credit Carryforwards [Line Items]
Interest due (pretax)			$ 10,000,000
Total taxes allegedly due	$ 19,000,000
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect | Other current assets
Operating Loss Carryforwards and Tax Credit Carryforwards [Line Items]
Decrease in current deferred tax assets				86,000,000
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect | Other long term assets
Operating Loss Carryforwards and Tax Credit Carryforwards [Line Items]
Decrease in current deferred tax assets				6,000,000
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect | Accounts payable and other current liabilities
Operating Loss Carryforwards and Tax Credit Carryforwards [Line Items]
Decrease in current deferred tax liabilities				6,000,000
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect | Deferred tax liabilities
Operating Loss Carryforwards and Tax Credit Carryforwards [Line Items]
Decrease in current deferred tax liabilities				$ 86,000,000