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Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textuals) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009 | Dec. 31, 2007
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Total rental expense | $ 280,000,000 | $ 250,000,000 | $ 362,000,000 |
Aggregate maximum payments received by the company | 4,050,000,000 |  |  |
Commitments And Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Range of possible loss, minimum | 0 |  |  |
Range of possible loss, maximum | 510,000,000 |  |  |
Contingent Obligations Co Brand Partners | 5,300,000,000 |  |  |
Amount of rentals subject to subleasing arrangements | 27,000,000 |  |  |
Future minimum payments on capital leases due, in 2012 | 11,000,000 |  |  |
Future minimum payments on capital leases due, in 2013 | 11,000,000 |  |  |
Future minimum payments on capital leases due, in 2014 | 12,000,000 |  |  |
Future minimum payments on capital leases due, in 2015 | 5,000,000 |  |  |
Future minimum payments on capital leases due, in 2016 | 5,000,000 |  |  |
Future minimum payments on capital leases due, thereafter | 29,000,000 |  |  |
Lease Termination Penalties [Member] |  |  |  |
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Total rental expense |  |  | 36,000,000 |
Visa [Member] |  |  |  |
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Aggregate maximum payments received by the company |  |  |  | 1,130,000,000
After tax settlement |  |  |  | 700,000,000
Pretax quarterly payments | 280,000,000 | 280,000,000 | 280,000,000 |
After tax quarterly payments | 172,000,000 | 172,000,000 | 172,000,000 |
Mastercard [Member] |  |  |  |
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Pretax quarterly payments | 300,000,000 | 600,000,000 | 600,000,000 |
After tax quarterly payments | $ 186,000,000 | $ 372,000,000 | $ 372,000,000 |

X
- Definition This element represents the after-tax quarterly settlement payments the Company receives from a counterparty, having met quarterly performance criteria. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This element represents the amount of contingent obligations to make payments under contractual agreements entered into as part of the ongoing operation of the Company's business, primarily with co-brand partners. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the after-tax amount awarded to the Company in settlement of litigation relating to Visa. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The total amount of sublease rental income that reduces the entity's future rent expense to be incurred under operating leases. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Contractually required rental payments on leases meeting the criteria for capitalization, due within one year of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 13 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph a(ii) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6455398&loc=d3e45280-112737 + Details
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- Definition Contractually required rental payments on leases meeting the criteria for capitalization, due within the third year from the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 13 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph a(ii) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6455398&loc=d3e45280-112737 + Details
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- Definition Contractually required rental payments on leases meeting the criteria for capitalization, due within the second year from the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 13 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph a(ii) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6455398&loc=d3e45280-112737 + Details
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- Definition Contractually required rental payments due on leases meeting the criteria for capitalization, after the fifth year from the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 13 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph a(ii) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 840 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6455398&loc=d3e45280-112737 + Details
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- Definition Rental expense incurred for leased assets including furniture and equipment which has not been recognized in costs and expenses applicable to sales and revenues; for example, cost of goods sold or other operating costs and expenses. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This element represents the gross amount awarded, to be received by, or to be remitted to the entity in settlement of litigation occurring during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
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