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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,
 WmtBkmqMim/woUNWeLabnrsFJejKc0ufYAbsu5JrqbfugvFaQ19xDOrwfoNR91TZ
 td5zIFFrZzIdBnYPBl1CoA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000904454-03-000671.txt : 20031106
<SEC-HEADER>0000904454-03-000671.hdr.sgml : 20031106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031106171233
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000904454-03-000671
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031106

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:			DENICOLA ANTHONY J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001212992

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15749
		FILM NUMBER:		03982981

	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>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-05</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001101215</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ADS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001212992</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DENICOLA ANTHONY J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WELSH, CARSON, ANDERSON AND STOWE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>320 PARK AVENUE, SUITE 2500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>847505</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>25.60</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12494942</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Welsh, Carson, Anderson &amp;
 Stowe VII, L.P.</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>282501</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>25.60</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3853049</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Welsh, Carson, Anderson &amp; Stowe VI, L.P.</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></
natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person is one of several general partners of the sole general partner of Welsh, Carson, Anderson &amp; Stowe VII, L.P.  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 beneficially owned by 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="F2">The Reporting Person is one of several general partners of the sole general partner of Welsh, Carson, Anderson &amp; Stowe VI, L.P.  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 beneficially owned by such limited partnership.  The Reporting Perso
n 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="F3">The Reporting Person also directly beneficially owns 48,444 shares and indirectly beneficially owns (i) 17,790,349 shares held by Welsh, Carson, Anderson &amp; Stowe VIII, L.P.; (ii) 655,555 shares held by WCAS Capital Partners III, L.P.; and (iii) 268,398 shares held by WCAS Capital Partners II, L.P. The Reporting Person is one of several managing members or general partners of the respective sole general partners of such limited partnerships. 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 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 actuall
y distributed to him.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jonathan M. Rather, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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