-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Vo7ZaIuECTKiWxIXskw4y+p56w6T7hLLqgK+cWnKcal2R+7ltsnhoxDNfqb2PSQ3
 zJ4LG0emDteG/pLbQiou9A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000904454-04-000522.txt : 20040728
<SEC-HEADER>0000904454-04-000522.hdr.sgml : 20040728
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040728154018
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000904454-04-000522
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040727
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040728

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:			MCINERNEY THOMAS E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001212989

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15749
		FILM NUMBER:		04935991

	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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-27</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001101215</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ADS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001212989</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCINERNEY THOMAS E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WELSH, CARSON, ANDERSON &amp; STOWE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>320 PARK AVENUE, SUITE 2500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>38253</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>39.68</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>182128</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person also indirectly beenficially owns (i) 17,790,349 shares held by Welsh, Carson, Anderson &amp; Stowe VIII, L.P.;  (ii) 1,774,942 shares held by Welsh, Carson, Anderson &amp; Stowe VII, L.P.; (iii) 523,049 shares held by Welsh, Carson, Anderson &amp; Stowe, VI, L.P.; (iv) 655,555 shasres held by WCAS Capital Partners III, 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 is a general partner or managing member 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 beneficialy ownership of any securities, and any proceeds thereof, that exceed his pecuniary interest therein and/or that are not actually distributed t
o him.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person also indirectly beneficially owns 75,526 shares held by the McInerney/Gabrielle Family Limited Partnership.  The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jonathan M. Rather, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----