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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Uvia/bljZpgtXbqONqeXw2tRrICql0SEy1EfLScOwOpcBpgiKB4W3lnAeQFfqv0i
 wY9AS5bPEwuQPIuHgiZGvg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000904454-03-000241.txt : 20030703
<SEC-HEADER>0000904454-03-000241.hdr.sgml : 20030703
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030703152557
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000904454-03-000241
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030624
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030703

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001101215
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				311429215
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		17655 WATERVIEW PARKWAY
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75252
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9723485100

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ANDERSON BRUCE K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001212987

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15749
		FILM NUMBER:		03775320

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		320 PARK AVENUE STE 2500
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2128939500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		320 PARK AVENUE STE 2500
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-24</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001101215</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ADS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001212987</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ANDERSON BRUCE K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-24</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1091</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>24.03</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>369267</value><footnoteId id="F2"/><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></na
tureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>24.03</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-24</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6208</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>24.03</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-06-23</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6208</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransact
ionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6208</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Such 1,091 shares are subject to a restriction on resale until one year after the Reporting Person's service on the Issuer's Board of Director terminates.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person also indirectly beneficially owns:  (i) 17,790,349 shares held by Welsh, Carson, Anderson &amp;amp; Stowe VIII, L.P., (ii) 17,922,447 shares held by Welsh, Carson, Anderson &amp;amp; Stowe VII, L.P., (iii) 5,555,550 shares held by Welsh, Carson, Anderson &amp;amp; Stowe VI, L.P., (iv) 655,555 shares held by WCAS Capital Partners II, L.P., (v) 268, 398 shares held by WCAS Capital Partners II, L.P., and (vi) 148,766 shares held by WCAS Information Partners L.P.  The Reporting Person i
s one of several general partners and/or managing members of the respective sole general partners  of, or one of the general partners of, such limited partnerships.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Pursuant to Instruction 4(b)(iv) of Form 4, the reporting person has elected to report as indirectly beneficially owned the entire number of securities reporting as beneficially owned by each such limited partnership.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of any securities,  and any proceeds thereof, that exceed his pecuniary interest therein, and/or that are not actually distributed to him.</footnote><footnote id="F4">The stock option vests 50% on 6/23/04 and 50% on the date of the Issuer's Annual Meeting of Stockholders in June 2005.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jonathan M. Rather, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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