CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Processing fees, administrative service fees, and other fees charged to merchant alliances under equity method	$ 52	$ 55	$ 150	$ 153

Processing fees, administrative service fees and other fees charged to merchant alliances accounted for under the equity method.

No definition available.

Name:	fdc_ProcessingFeesAdministrativeServiceFeesAndOtherFeesChargedToMerchantAlliances
Namespace Prefix:	fdc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration