2.2.0.25truefalse41601 - Disclosure - Obligations Under Litigation Settlements (Narrative) (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis} : State Unfair Competition [Member]
9/30/2009
USD ($)
$As_Of_9_30_2009_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_ma_StateUnfairCompetitionMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391instant2009-09-30T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseState Unfair Competition [Member]us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldima_StateUnfairCompetitionMemberus-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis} : American Express Settlement [Member]
6/1/2008 - 6/30/2008
USD ($)
$Duration_6_1_2008_To_6_30_2008_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_ma_AmericanExpressSettlementMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391duration2008-06-01T00:00:002008-06-30T00:00:00falsefalseAmerican Express Settlement [Member]us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldima_AmericanExpressSettlementMemberus-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis} : American Express Settlement [Member]
1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011
USD ($)
$Duration_1_1_2011_To_3_31_2011_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_ma_AmericanExpressSettlementMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseAmerican Express Settlement [Member]us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldima_AmericanExpressSettlementMemberus-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis} : American Express Settlement [Member]
7/1/2008 - 9/30/2008
USD ($)
$Duration_7_1_2008_To_9_30_2008_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_ma_AmericanExpressSettlementMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391duration2008-07-01T00:00:002008-09-30T00:00:00falsefalseAmerican Express Settlement [Member]us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldima_AmericanExpressSettlementMemberus-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis} : American Express Settlement [Member]
1/1/2008 - 6/30/2008
Duration_1_1_2008_To_6_30_2008_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_ma_AmericanExpressSettlementMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-06-30T00:00:00falsefalseAmerican Express Settlement [Member]us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldima_AmericanExpressSettlementMemberus-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxisexplicitMemberUnit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$2false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentPeriodicPaymentus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2truefalsefalse150000000150falsetruefalsetruefalse3truefalsefalse150000000150falsetruefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse150000000150falsetruefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of the required periodic payments including both interest and principal payments. (Consider the frequency of payment.)Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5
falsefalse3false0ma_PercentOfBillingsWhichPaymentsWillAmountTomafalsenadurationPercent of Billings Which Payments Will Amount Tofalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truetruefalse0.150.15falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepurePercent of Billings Which Payments Will Amount ToNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValueus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse60000006falsefalsefalsetruefalse2truefalsefalse18000000001800falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse18000000001800falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the combined total of loss contingency reserves.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 5
-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12
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