QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (QUARTERLY FINANCIALS TABLE) (DETAILS) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) [ABSTRACT]
Revenue	$ 295,261	$ 286,268	$ 288,798	$ 292,654	$ 300,538	$ 304,235	$ 293,636	$ 280,979	$ 1,162,981	$ 1,179,388	$ 1,094,906
Cost of services	(212,021)	(201,766)	(209,121)	(211,895)	(218,088)	(220,795)	(210,358)	(199,121)	(834,803)	(848,362)	(789,697)
Selling, general and administrative	(44,945)	(43,845)	(45,709)	(48,135)	(50,273)	(43,445)	(47,283)	(47,801)	(182,634)	(188,802)	(165,812)
Depreciation and amortization	(10,126)	(10,695)	(10,229)	(10,116)	(10,061)	(11,807)	(11,423)	(11,598)	(41,166)	(44,889)	(50,218)
Restructuring charges, net	(2,181)	(2,440)	(16,296)	(1,958)	(1,353)	(1,616)	57	(739)	(22,875)	(3,651)	(13,476)
Impairment losses	0	(161)	(997)	(1,800)				(230)	(2,958)	(230)	(1,958)
Income from operations	25,988	27,361	6,446	18,750	20,763	26,572	24,629	21,490	78,545	93,454	73,745
Other income (expense)	(1,881)	(1,252)	(1,470)	(80)	279	(633)	(1,276)	(270)	(4,683)	(1,900)	8,224
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	2,969	(3,611)	(1,272)	1,853	3,797	(496)	129	9,849	61	(13,279)	(28,431)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	756	1,291	925	936	1,132	1,064	1,007	898	(3,908)	(4,101)	(3,664)
Net income attributable to TeleTech stockholders	$ 20,382	$ 28,429	$ 5,323	$ 15,881	$ 16,113	$ 25,371	$ 22,217	$ 10,473	$ 70,015	$ 74,174	$ 49,874
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic	53,262	54,093	55,125	56,493	56,309	56,476	56,713	57,190	54,738	56,669	60,361
Diluted	54,196	54,905	55,712	57,418	57,500	57,748	57,974	58,797	55,540	57,963	61,792
Net income per share attributable to TeleTech stockholders
Basic	$ 0.38	$ 0.53	$ 0.10	$ 0.28	$ 0.29	$ 0.45	$ 0.39	$ 0.18	$ 1.28	$ 1.31	$ 0.83
Diluted	$ 0.38	$ 0.52	$ 0.10	$ 0.28	$ 0.28	$ 0.44	$ 0.38	$ 0.18	$ 1.26	$ 1.28	$ 0.81