-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JOHLk1IG/HDksvFW72XRLw8DO1/2IJGjMD5owu4gkOXdJgMoMAM27aKccgdDM5yQ
 x17WVm6w0CZt5g6fDaqC/g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000904454-05-000004.txt : 20050111
<SEC-HEADER>0000904454-05-000004.hdr.sgml : 20050111
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050111085206
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000904454-05-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050111
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050111
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050111

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:			WELSH CARSON ANDERSON STOWE VIII LP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001071870
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15749
		FILM NUMBER:		05522234

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		320 PARK AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2500
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2128415755

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		320 PARK AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 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>2005-01-11</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001071870</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WELSH CARSON ANDERSON STOWE VIII LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>320 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>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>2005-01-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4000000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12160349</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Distribution of shares by the Reporting Person to its partners.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jonathan M. Rather, Managing Member of WCAS VIII Associates, L.L.C., General Partner of Welsh, Carson, Anderson &amp; Stowe VIII, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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