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John Lewis: Partnership Card reviews

1.86
Based on 894 reviews, last reviewed 30th Apr 2026
No new 5 star reviews
in the past 90 days
700% increase in 1 star reviews
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Latest highest rating:

4

High interest although you gain points using your cr... High interest although you gain points using your credit card whilst shopping in John Lewis Reviewed on: 17th April 2026
Mary A's avatar
Mary A

Latest lowest rating:

1

Zero TRUST, and HONESTY Customer service is shocking. A distinct lack of ANY rewards for points earned. You call to say you have recieved zero vouchers depite clocking up ove... Read more Reviewed on: 30th April 2026
Bonbon's avatar
Bonbon

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?

Find out more about the Partnership card by reading our reviews from the Smart Money People community - people like you. You can also write your own John Lewis Partnership Card review to share your own experiences.


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John Lewis Partnership Card reviews (894)

Review of the John Lewis, Partnership 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

New credit card

1
Cut credit limit by 66%. Will be buying larger purchases elsewhere using M&S card instead. Reviewed on: 9th October 2022

Time to move on

1
As with all other reviews we have been JL card holders for many years with substantial card limit. Always paid on time card limit routinely increased. This has encouraged us to shop at Jl and Waitrose for day to day shopping and all high end goods. Applied for new card and our business is no longer valued. This does indeed herald the beginning of the end of JL and Dame Sharon White. The board should understand the value of long standing customers and will pay the price for the shoddy treatment. Reviewed on: 8th October 2022

I have used the partnership card for 20 years and always made payments on time, Today got rejected for new card on their clunky new application platform

1
John Lewis have lost the plot. They are alienating their most loyal customer base. Reviewed on: 8th October 2022

New Day transition farce..

1
Whoever in the John Lewis organisation agreed to change their Partnership Card to New Day has brought the company into disrepute with a lot of their customers. Having used the card for most purchases and settled the bill in full each month it appears this is not the type of user New Day want. It would seem they are more interested in people who can’t pay, and have outstanding credit each month, hence they can levy huge interest charges on them. Shame on you John Lewis in this current economic climate. Reviewed on: 8th October 2022

Shocked and Very Upset

1
I have had a John Lewis partnership card for 20 years and always pay off the full amount. I would have given the service 5 stars previously. My application for the new NewDay card has been refused and I can't find out why without writing a letter! John Lewis you are alienating your most loyal customers! Reviewed on: 8th October 2022

New JL card service is inferior

1
after years of using the old partnership card with good service I am very disappointed with the new card provider. Twice my card has been rejected on line and the provider claims no trace of the attempted transaction which went through when I uedv another cc. The wait time and ridiculous number of options on the phone is unacceptable. The staff don't seem surprised at the problems and admitted they are new and having issues. I guess this new provider is cheaper for JL and mirrors the rest of their failing customer service. Reviewed on: 7th October 2022

Dealt with John Lewis fianace for 20 plus years have now closed account.

1
I have used a John Lewis Credit card for more than 20 years with no problems at all until they changed provider. I applied for cards for myself and my wife to replace the old cards. I have been unable to activate the cards. I have been completely unable to get an answer to my phonecalls from the new provider. John Lewis do answer but say they cant do anything phone the new provider. I have cut up and binned the cards and closed the account. Reviewed on: 7th October 2022

Total Foul up for New day Credit Card applications

1
I have been a loyal John Lewis for many years but it seems JL does not value such as their transition to New Day has left me and others fuming with their ineptitude..Avoid. Reviewed on: 7th October 2022

Rubbish partnership card

1
The old John Lewis partnership credit card was very good and myself and my wife used it for every thing even holidays and we always paid the full balance off every month. With all credit cards you have a set period of time during which no interest is charged (This is called the interest free period), usually between 20 and 55 days. For some reason John Lewis or New Day has decided this is far too generous and has reduced this to a very mean 10 days. We have other credit cards that allow at the very least 24 days interest free credit. Goodbye John Lewis Partnership card!! Reviewed on: 6th October 2022

Poor Service

1
Having spent over one hour on the telephone trying to resolve an issue with my purchase of foreign currency on line I reluctantly gave up. I tried another retailer and had my order processed within five minutes. I remember well the days when John Lewis was renowned for its customer service, those days have sadly gone. I'm considering like so many others cancelling my account and moving to a retailer who can genuinely look after customers. Reviewed on: 5th October 2022

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