Restructuring charges (restructuring accruals by year and by segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	45 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	45 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	33 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	21 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		45 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	45 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	45 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	45 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	45 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	45 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012 2009 initiatives [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 2009 initiatives [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 2010 initiatives [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 2010 initiatives [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 2011 initiatives [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 2011 initiatives [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 2012 initiatives [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Employee severance benefits [Member] Small Business Services [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Employee severance benefits [Member] Small Business Services [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Employee severance benefits [Member] Financial Services [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Employee severance benefits [Member] Financial Services [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Employee severance benefits [Member] Direct Checks [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Employee severance benefits [Member] Direct Checks [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Employee severance benefits [Member] Corporate [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Employee severance benefits [Member] Corporate [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Operating lease obligations [Member] Small Business Services [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Operating lease obligations [Member] Small Business Services [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Operating lease obligations [Member] Direct Checks [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Operating lease obligations [Member] Direct Checks [Member]
Restructuring accruals [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	$ 6,032		$ 184		$ 781		$ 5,067		$ 0	$ 887		$ 1,397		$ 744		$ 2,647		$ 69		$ 288
Restructuring charges	4,803	34,336	11	11,035	15	9,730	263	9,057	4,514	2,005	11,002	338	6,172	166	3,449	2,176	12,722	0	364	118	627
Restructuring reversals	(1,397)	(5,000)	(2)	(1,672)	(226)	(1,548)	(990)	(1,601)	(179)	(117)	(1,666)	(208)	(923)	(90)	(282)	(982)	(2,129)	0	0	0	0
Inter-segment transfer	0	0								184	309	(184)	50	(40)	(38)	40	(321)	0	0	0	0
Payments	(6,078)	(25,976)	(183)	(9,353)	(413)	(8,025)	(3,945)	(7,061)	(1,537)	(1,891)	(8,577)	(1,122)	(5,078)	(540)	(2,889)	(2,293)	(8,684)	(67)	(362)	(165)	(386)
Balance, end of period	$ 3,360	$ 3,360	$ 10	$ 10	$ 157	$ 157	$ 395	$ 395	$ 2,798	$ 1,068	$ 1,068	$ 221	$ 221	$ 240	$ 240	$ 1,588	$ 1,588	$ 2	$ 2	$ 241	$ 241