Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	$ 650,247,000		$ 650,247,000	$ 698,878,000
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense			58,000,000	61,000,000	69,000,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	2,147,088,000		2,147,088,000	2,306,793,000
Goodwill impairment	84,500,000	45,650,000	130,150,000
Acquisition purchase price				12,000,000
Finite lived intangible assets future amortization expense
Remaining for year ended December 31, 2012			45,213,000
Year ended December 31, 2013			41,530,000
Year ended December 31, 2014			37,111,000
Year ended December 31, 2015			32,974,000
Year ended December 31, 2016			18,824,000
Thereafter			36,951,000
Total			212,603,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	2,147,088,000		2,147,088,000	2,306,793,000
Goodwill impairment	84,500,000	45,650,000	130,150,000
Small And Medium Business Solutions [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Other			(10,266,000)	(15,415,000)
Goodwill	529,182,000		529,182,000	539,448,000	554,863,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Other			(10,266,000)	(15,415,000)
Goodwill	529,182,000		529,182,000	539,448,000	554,863,000
North America Mailing [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Other			(5,021,000)	(8,765,000)
Goodwill	352,897,000		352,897,000	357,918,000	366,683,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Other			(5,021,000)	(8,765,000)
Goodwill	352,897,000		352,897,000	357,918,000	366,683,000
International Mailing [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Other			(5,245,000)	(6,650,000)
Goodwill	176,285,000		176,285,000	181,530,000	188,180,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Other			(5,245,000)	(6,650,000)
Goodwill	176,285,000		176,285,000	181,530,000	188,180,000
Enterprise Business Solutions [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Acquired during the period				47,354,000
Other			(19,289,000)	(12,050,000)
Goodwill	1,617,906,000		1,617,906,000	1,767,345,000	1,732,041,000
Goodwill impairment			(130,150,000)
Goodwill [Line Items]
Acquired during the period				47,354,000
Other			(19,289,000)	(12,050,000)
Goodwill	1,617,906,000		1,617,906,000	1,767,345,000	1,732,041,000
Goodwill impairment			(130,150,000)
Production Mail [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Other			(1,105,000)	(2,143,000)
Goodwill	140,371,000		140,371,000	141,476,000	143,619,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Other			(1,105,000)	(2,143,000)
Goodwill	140,371,000		140,371,000	141,476,000	143,619,000
Software Segment [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Acquired during the period				47,354,000
Other			(10,977,000)	(3,191,000)
Goodwill	667,124,000		667,124,000	678,101,000	633,938,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Acquired during the period				47,354,000
Other			(10,977,000)	(3,191,000)
Goodwill	667,124,000		667,124,000	678,101,000	633,938,000
Management Services [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Other			(7,210,000)	(5,622,000)
Goodwill	402,723,000		402,723,000	494,433,000	500,055,000
Goodwill impairment			(84,500,000)
Impairment Of Intangible Assets Finitelived			5,000,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Other			(7,210,000)	(5,622,000)
Goodwill	402,723,000		402,723,000	494,433,000	500,055,000
Goodwill impairment			(84,500,000)
Impairment Of Intangible Assets Finitelived			5,000,000
Mail Services [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Other			3,000	(530,000)
Goodwill	213,455,000		213,455,000	259,102,000	259,632,000
Goodwill impairment			(45,650,000)
Impairment Of Intangible Assets Finitelived			12,000,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Other			3,000	(530,000)
Goodwill	213,455,000		213,455,000	259,102,000	259,632,000
Goodwill impairment			(45,650,000)
Impairment Of Intangible Assets Finitelived			12,000,000
Marketing Services [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Other			0	(564,000)
Goodwill	194,233,000		194,233,000	194,233,000	194,797,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Other			0	(564,000)
Goodwill	194,233,000		194,233,000	194,233,000	194,797,000
Total Level [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Other			(29,555,000)
Goodwill	2,147,088,000		2,147,088,000	2,306,793,000
Goodwill impairment			(130,150,000)
Goodwill [Line Items]
Other			(29,555,000)
Goodwill	2,147,088,000		2,147,088,000	2,306,793,000
Goodwill impairment			(130,150,000)
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	409,489,000		409,489,000	453,523,000
Finite lived intangible assets accumulated amortization	237,536,000		237,536,000	229,143,000
Finite lived intangible assets, net	171,953,000		171,953,000	224,380,000
Supplier Relationships [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	29,000,000		29,000,000	29,000,000
Finite lived intangible assets accumulated amortization	19,213,000		19,213,000	16,192,000
Finite lived intangible assets, net	9,787,000		9,787,000	12,808,000
Software And Technology [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	170,286,000		170,286,000	172,188,000
Finite lived intangible assets accumulated amortization	143,456,000		143,456,000	118,390,000
Finite lived intangible assets, net	26,830,000		26,830,000	53,798,000
Trademark And Trade Name [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	33,908,000		33,908,000	36,322,000
Finite lived intangible assets accumulated amortization	30,076,000		30,076,000	30,224,000
Finite lived intangible assets, net	3,832,000		3,832,000	6,098,000
Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	7,564,000		7,564,000	7,845,000
Finite lived intangible assets accumulated amortization	7,363,000		7,363,000	7,486,000
Finite lived intangible assets, net	201,000		201,000	359,000
Total Intangible Assets [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite lived intangible assets accumulated amortization	$ 437,644,000		$ 437,644,000	$ 401,435,000