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John Lewis: Partnership credit card reviews

Name: Partnership credit card
Rating: 2.06 (899 reviews)

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2.06

Based on 899 reviews, last reviewed 22nd Jun 2026

300% increase in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

No new 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

87%

Latest highest rating:

5

Problem free credit card Problem free credit card which makes it easy for me to budget my every day expenses without the worry of being saddled with unsustainable debt. Reviewed on: 12th June 2026

Latest lowest rating:

1

Poor customer experience Received a text message to call New Day urgently re suspected fraud when trying to renew my car insurance online and payment was blocked. Immediately... Read more Reviewed on: 22nd June 2026

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About this product

With the John Lewis Partnership credit card, you earn points on eligible purchases to get John Lewis and Waitrose gift cards.

You can check your eligibility in minutes without affecting your credit rating. There are also John Lewis Partnership cardholder offers, prize draws and opportunities to boost your points.

John Lewis Partnership credit card reviews help you find out what it’s really like to be a customer. If you’ve used John Lewis before, you can also leave a review and share your experience.

John Lewis Partnership credit card reviews (899)

Review of the John Lewis, Partnership credit 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

They are now a pain

An unnecessary disruption to my life changing my cards around. Now everything needs verification so all my automated Amazon orders are getting delayed. John Lewis did not think about customer impact here. I have moved to M&S card. Reviewed on: 18th November 2022

New John Lewis credit card not recognised by some organisations

Although our application for the new John Lewis credit card provided by New Day was fairly straightforward, since we have had it, several websites and companies have said their ‘system’ does not recognise NewDay card numbers! How on earth can a company such as John Lewis force us to change to a credit card company that hasn’t ensured that their cards are accepted everywhere. The companies not recognising the card include my local council authority, not just small local shops and businesses. Really not impressed with the way this has been handled. John Lewis- you really haven’t impressed your once loyal customers with this mess Reviewed on: 18th November 2022

Extremely unhappy with newday card

Like many others I have been with John Lewis for many years and never had a problem. I always paid promptly, more recently online rather than by post. The App is a restricted method of payment and like others I could not find details if paying online through my bank. I have cleared my balance through telephone banking. It does not feel like a John Lewis account anymore, just John Lewis telling me which credit card I should use. I still love John Lewis as a shop; I will just make future purchases via my M&S card! Reviewed on: 18th November 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

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