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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 gLdIVWUQgT9HCwwWtP93dw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001101215-09-000060.txt : 20090918
<SEC-HEADER>0001101215-09-000060.hdr.sgml : 20090918
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090918160454
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001101215-09-000060
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090916
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090918
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090918

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:			UTAY ALAN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001160117

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15749
		FILM NUMBER:		091076939
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-09-16</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001160117</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>UTAY ALAN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>17655 WATERVIEW PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75252-8012</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, CAO, Gen. Counsel, Secy</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>62.37</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>117338</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The total number of securities beneficially owned includes: (a) 20,000 unrestricted shares; (b) 1,408 unvested shares from an original award of 4,141 time-based restricted stock units granted 2/21/07; (c) 2,912 unvested shares from an original award of 5,824 performance-based restricted stock units granted 2/21/07; (d) 40,160 unvested shares from an original award of 59,939 performance-based restricted stock units granted 4/28/08; (e) 32,858 unvested shares from an original award of 49,041 time-based restricted stock units granted 4/28/08; and (f) 20,000 unvested performance-based restricted stock units granted 2/23/09.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Leigh Ann K. Epperson, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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