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John Lewis: Partnership credit card reviews

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
See only 5 star reviews
5%
See only 4 star reviews
2%
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2%
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4%
See only 1 star reviews
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
Robert Neale's avatar
Robert Neale

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
honrad's avatar
honrad

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.

1
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

I just really like the Parnership card.

5
I just really like the Parnership card. I makes things easier to purchase and the settings let you know when payment is due. It's very simple and has made my life easier. I'd recommend it to friends and family. Reviewed on: 27th May 2025

If I could score lower than 1 star I would.

1
If I could score lower than 1 star I would.. I’ve been trying to increase my credit limit .. you can’t even GIVE them money! Customer services are not trained to deal with queries - my dog can give me more info than they can… they deserve these bad reviews. I’m ditching my card and sticking with my M and S one who are brilliant at every level AND they deal with queries face to face in store… Reviewed on: 6th May 2025

Slow in producing pdf statements each month

1
Ask for payment and ask you to check your statement days before they get round to the producing the actual pdf statement itself! Reviewed on: 2nd May 2025

Pity you cannot give 0 They block your card for no r...

1
Pity you cannot give 0 They block your card for no reason and cannot explain why! Reviewed on: 15th April 2025

Newday have ruined JLs integrity

1
Newday who are the administarors of John Lewis credit cards are unpersonalised, unintelligent, incompetent administarors of a once reputable company. I have been with JL for decades, always paid my account in full on time, yet they would not increase my credit limit, and could not give me a reason why. The complaint phone lines are maned by people who speak with unfathomable foreign accents. John Lewis, you have gone down hill. What a shame!! The only bonus is a John Lewis voucher every so often, otherwise, I'd cancel it today. Reviewed on: 5th April 2025

Good credit card with money back

5
The JL partnership card is good because it gives some money back, dependent on how much money you spend, in the form of vouchers to be spent in JL or Waitrose. Reviewed on: 27th February 2025

Ever since NewDay took over it has been chaos.

1
Ever since NewDay took over it has been chaos. This happens frequently. I receive messages stating my bill was not paid on time, when it was.. All firms now have security and I do not find this problem with other providers. At the moment they have blocked my account, again. I always pay my account in full every month and have spent a lot of money with John Lewis. I do not think NewDay are the right firm to work with John Lewis. They are at the wrong end of the market. Reviewed on: 20th February 2025

Disaster of a credit card company - total fail!

1
We recently tried adding our John Lewis Partnership Card to Apple Pay, only to find it blocked by NewDay, the card provider. Shockingly, this happened just after purchasing the iPhone directly from John Lewis! The experience with NewDay’s so-called fraud department was appalling—by far the most incompetent we’ve ever encountered. An elderly family member was subjected to invasive and idiotic questioning by untrained staff and low-IQ managers who then arbitrarily decided to block the card. Their handling of this situation was completely devoid of logic or reason. It’s hard to believe a company with such disastrous customer service could gain FCA authorisation. By partnering with NewDay, John Lewis is risking its well-earned reputation for quality and reliability. Many loyal customers, including us, are now rethinking their relationship with John Lewis because of this poor choice of provider. Please, John Lewis, reconsider your partnership with NewDay. The previous provider was leagues better, and good customer service isn’t rocket science—it’s common sense. This fiasco proves NewDay isn’t up to the standard your customers expect and deserve. Reviewed on: 24th December 2024

The Worst CC that has ever existed

1
If anyone is considering JL money/credit cards, please don’t bother. They are simply the worst you’ll ever come across. We love John Lewis and as a matter of fact it is an insult to have this trustworthy establishment being associated with such a low service from this company that handles the credit cards. The cards are often blocked from no obvious reasons and to no fault on us. Trying to unblock it, you’ll be faced with an illogical process, low intelligence staff and most frustrating experiences. John Lewis, please do something about it, if only this could be possible without change of supplier. At the end of their contract, please consider bringing on board people who can represent you and your names adequately and provide your clients with a reliable service. So far, the only thing we are faced with is a crap service and high frustrations. They are pushing your loyal clients away and competitions do exist. JL, you have to act and very promptly. Reviewed on: 20th December 2024

JL/Waitrose card(s) are a waste of time.

1
I’ve had this card (John Lewis / Waitrose) for some years now. I used to get a set of 5 Waitrose money-off vouchers each week from which I could choose a couple. I now get two specific vouchers for products I just wouldn’t buy. As for John Lewis I get no benefits at all, not even a cup of coffee. If the JL partnership wants my personal shopping data surely they should be a tad more generous? Simple solution - stopped wasting checkout time scanning my card and have now deleted the apps. Reviewed on: 17th October 2024

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