v2.4.0.6
Financing Receivables and Allowance For Losses On Financing Receivables (Allowance for Losses on Financing Receivables ) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance $ 5,380 $ 6,512 $ 6,190 $ 7,919
Provision charged 2,728 2,893    
Other (58) (13)    
Gross write-offs (4,649) (5,499)    
Recoveries 1,169 1,212    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 1,249 1,646 1,530 2,045
Provision charged 378 479    
Other (68) (50)    
Gross write-offs (740) (993)    
Recoveries 149 165    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Americas CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 567 995 889 1,288
Provision charged 67 250    
Other (43) (79)    
Gross write-offs (423) (544)    
Recoveries 77 80    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Europe CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 574 403 400 429
Provision charged 271 126    
Other (3) 17    
Gross write-offs (142) (218)    
Recoveries 48 49    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Asia CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 72 150 157 222
Provision charged 13 81    
Other (1) 16    
Gross write-offs (117) (194)    
Recoveries 20 25    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Other CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 2 5 4 6
Provision charged 9 3    
Other (1) (4)    
Gross write-offs (10) 0    
Recoveries 0 0    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 1,215 1,553 1,450 1,945
Provision charged 360 460    
Other (48) (50)    
Gross write-offs (692) (956)    
Recoveries 145 154    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Energy Financial Services Financing Receivables [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 13 36 26 22
Provision charged 8 10    
Other 0 0    
Gross write-offs (24) (4)    
Recoveries 3 8    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | GECAS Financing Receivables [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 12 14 17 20
Provision charged 7 (4)    
Other (1) 0    
Gross write-offs (11) (2)    
Recoveries 0 0    
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Other Financing Receivables [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 9 43 37 58
Provision charged 3 13    
Other (19) 0    
Gross write-offs (13) (31)    
Recoveries 1 3    
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 736 1,141 1,089 1,488
Provision charged 101 225    
Other (7) 13    
Gross write-offs (455) (601)    
Recoveries 8 16    
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] | Debt Real Estate [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 631 978 949 1,292
Provision charged 60 155    
Other 1 13    
Gross write-offs (384) (494)    
Recoveries 5 12    
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] | Business Properties Real Estate [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 105 163 140 196
Provision charged 41 70    
Other (8) 0    
Gross write-offs (71) (107)    
Recoveries 3 4    
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 3,395 3,725 3,571 4,386
Provision charged 2,249 2,189    
Other 17 24    
Gross write-offs (3,454) (3,905)    
Recoveries 1,012 1,031    
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Non US residential mortgages [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 467 622 546 689
Provision charged 66 56    
Other 5 8    
Gross write-offs (213) (169)    
Recoveries 63 38    
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Non US installment and revolving credit [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 654 816 717 937
Provision charged 270 413    
Other 22 16    
Gross write-offs (798) (980)    
Recoveries 443 430    
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | US installment and revolving credit [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 2,030 1,953 2,008 2,333
Provision charged 1,807 1,587    
Other (18) (1)    
Gross write-offs (2,140) (2,365)    
Recoveries 373 399    
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Non US auto [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 73 123 101 168
Provision charged 18 26    
Other (7) 7    
Gross write-offs (110) (176)    
Recoveries 71 98    
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Consumer Other Financing Receivable [Member]
        
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]        
Total balance 171 211 199 259
Provision charged 88 107    
Other 15 (6)    
Gross write-offs (193) (215)    
Recoveries $ 62 $ 66