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John Lewis: Partnership Card reviews

Name: Partnership Card
Rating: 1.33 (876 reviews)

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1.33

Based on 876 reviews, last reviewed 25th Sep 2025

100% decrease in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

25% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

88%

Latest highest rating:

5

had a partnership card for years now. had a partnership card for years now. love the rewards vouchers on spends and the points you are awarded for using their credit card which i normally ... Read more Reviewed on: 12th June 2025

Latest lowest rating:

1

If your phone is stolen, you cannot verify anything. I had my phone and card stolen, to cancel your card you need your phone... to do anything, you need your phone. So then decided to used the chat servi... Read more Reviewed on: 25th September 2025

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About this product

Read our John Lewis Finance Partnership Card reviews to help you to find out about the pros and cons of taking out the Partnership credit card. What kind of features does the John Lewis Partnership card have? What do people think of John Lewis' customer service? Does the card have great benefits?

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John Lewis Partnership Card reviews (876)

Review of the John Lewis, Partnership Card:

JLP and Newday in cahoots.

Told I'm ineligible - despite >50 years loyal JLP customer, 5 figure credit limit and score excellent - I have after communications with JLP managers concluded that this oust has been orchestrated by JLP. From sources including JLP and Newday websites,, I speculate: JL stores are in financial difficulty, currently supported by Waitrose itself on the brink. It’s not that JLP doesn't want higher spending loyal customers, it sure does; but what it wants is custom that doesn’t sap profits.    With the HBSC JL Partnership card, each £1 spent qualifies for a point, whose number depends upon whether spent at JL and/or W or elsewhere. The more elsewhere the less JLP gets the more it costs JLP. I think it used to be one point for every £1 spent in JLP, two for every £1 elsewhere. Nowadays for some eligible purchases at JL and W 5 points for every £4 spent; and for other eligible purchases at JL and W 1 point for every £4; 1 point for every £4 spent elsewhere. Fewer vouchers for spending elsewhere is not a deterrent. For example, if a card-holder with £5,000 credit limit spends £4000 a month elsewhere then JLP issues vouchers. Vouchers can only be used in JL or W but it doesn't follow the purchase price has to exceed the vouchers value. A cardholder could amass a substantial sum in vouchers without having spent a penny at JL or W. When using vouchers to buy in JL or W not have to buy anything involving any extra payment for the difference between the vouchers and price. JLP would make a loss. JLP says that over the last five years £230m has been issued in vouchers. How much of approximately £126,000 a day average has gone to customers that haven't paid JLP anything. By enlisting Newday to either render higher credit limit existing Partnership cardholders ineligible or where the applicant is eligible a substantially lower limit JLP is reducing the value of vouchers issued. JLP is probably getting a share of any interest paid by new card-holders and paying a lower commission on receivables (transaction sales). JLP I suspect envisages that where an existing Partnership cardholder is rejected that person would obtain a desired credit limit from another card provider and continue to buy from JL/W whenever. Whether enough existing Partnership cardholders would want to continue loyal to JLP is a separate issue. A JLP partner qualifying for discount told me that for most goods and services there are cheaper deals elsewhere. Not a deposit-taker Newday hasn't any revenue beyond credit cards. It borrows to re-lend, loan note interest between 2% and 6+% a year - with interest rates rising costs will go up: for how much longer its business is sustainable is anyone's guess. To finance JLP's transaction, Newday has taken out a loan of £650M. Any cardholder paying the whole balance monthly is getting an interest-free loan from the date of purchase to balance payment date - if you time it carefully then up to 45 days - so for that reason alone an existing JL Partnership cardholder is ineligible. Newday plans to float shares on the stock market next year so boosting the number of cardholders is to impress shareholders. A £5000 credit limit to one card holder (unlikely to pay interest) is akin to £500 limit to 10 card holders (likely to pay some interest). The net proceeds of a stock market float (rumoured capitalisation £2.5Bn) would provide a injection of interest-free cash. The sad part is that JLP could increase its profit margin and number of loyal customers without having to resort to destroying long-term customer relationships with JLP. Instead of the vouchers issued regardless of where a JL Partnership cardholder spends, the vouchers should be linked to the myJohnLewis and myWaitrose cards. Show or scan a my-card before paying and have the voucher value credited to the my-card - and since printing on paper is costly to administer, to issue every JL and W customer a my-card which can be produced by the customer at the check-out for credit and debit with the points/voucher value. Reviewed on: 5th September 2022

We are merely customers

Two major issues since switching to new card, customer services were initially non-existent, then there was an improvement but in both cases, the onus was on me to do the leg work and act as go-between when it was obvious communication between retailer and card company was the issue. Reviewed on: 16th November 2022

Dreadful

This is an appalling card in terms of customer service. I have not been told by email that my first statement is available online. Had I not checked I could have missed payment date. You can only increase credit limit on line, not reduce it. This is not helpful for anyone struggling with their finances. Trying to contact provider is virtually impossible. I did once get through to the South African call centre and individual was helpful, but the only way to speak to a real person is by not replying to the automatic questions. Information provided to make payment is poor and bank prompts do not refer to name on the new card!! Account number on card is at variance from account number on statement, which is confusing!! It is also impossible to find anyone at John Lewis to complain to about their choice of provider. Reviewed on: 16th November 2022

TRYING TO PAY DIRECT FROM MY BANK

I've received my 1st statement and went onto my online banking to pay. There is no info anywhere with the actual A/C name. I checked the JL credit card app and the direct debit says Santander Cards UK Limited re. NewDay Ltd. I've tried every variation of this A/C name and it cannot be verified even though I also bank with Santander. I triple checked the sort code and bank a/c number and have risked making the payment as I don't want to incur late payment fees. Is this to discourage anyone paying direct from their bank and to force you to set up a direct debit which I would never do. For goodness sake New Day/John Lewis you need to make sure your A/C details are verifiable in this day and age of fraud Reviewed on: 15th November 2022

Long time customer refused by New Day

Been with JL for 15 years and credit refused by new day for a new account. Heard this has been very common. Back to M & S too! Can’t believe they’re happy to lose so many reliable customers!! Reviewed on: 15th November 2022

Card isn't being accepted

Have had the previous JL card for 15 years, never had a problem, easy to get hold of customer services etc. Just tried to book a Travelodge for work and apparently the card type isn't recognised. Can't get through to customer services so have had to pay by other means. No point having the card if I can't use it! It's been problematic using in shops since I got it so, I'll take my custom elsewhere. Such a shame, New Day haven't got any synergy with the John Lewis brand. Reviewed on: 14th November 2022

Response from John Lewis ?

Has anyone managed to get a reasoned response from John Lewis ? I`ve tried various methods but I get the same old standard responses saying New Day are regulated etc etc. New Day may well be legal but they are clearly not very good. How were they chosen ? Why don`t my bank recognise their account details ? Did John Lewis know their terms and conditions for example that you have to have a mobile phone and you can`t pay them over the counter at a proper bank ? Has anyone seen any comment from John Lewis on these matters ? Reviewed on: 14th November 2022

Disaster!

Long story short. 1.Pin unreadable 2. Locked it for fraud on day 1 3. Didn’t answer when I rang so had to use another card 4. 20 mins hanging on to unlock it 5. Another 12 mins to answer ridiculous questions including L, what is the credit card limit on other cards? And how many other New Day credit cards do you have? I don’t know! Never heard of you, didn’t know you were behind this shambles, so I hope the answer is none! John Lewis what have you done? False economy. Pay New Day less but lose numerous customers. Please rethink! Reviewed on: 14th November 2022

Disastrous

Never had a problem with the old partnership card and I like their Christmas advert but why have they changed from HSBC to NewDay? I decided to have a look at my account on Saturday night and was told the app. needed updating. Updated the app and was unable to access it and after several attempts my account was blocked. No access to customer services on Saturday night and I needed the card for Sunday morning to top up with fuel and take my wife for a meal. I won’t be needing it again because I have applied for a M&S card which is on its way. Goodbye John Lewis, it was nice while it lasted. Reviewed on: 13th November 2022

Flimsy card

Know it was my fault. I misplaced my card but they are so thin they are just like a piece of paper. I bey you have loads of people misplacing it because of its poor quality! Reviewed on: 13th November 2022

Very disappointed

I’ve just been charged (interest and fee) for not paying my credit card bill - even though I have a letter from them confirming my DD has been set up. No email contact details, tge website says the call centre is open on Sunday (10-4), but after 5 mins negotiating the options the recorded message says their offices are closed on Sundays. Complete shambles! Really disappointing that JLP haven’t selected a provider without checking/insisting service levels comparable to their own. New credit card provider being sought after many years with JLP - not happy. Reviewed on: 13th November 2022

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