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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

20% decrease 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?

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 (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

Avoid this credit card provider

The card initialising does not work as shown on the instructions. It is impossible to communicate with NewDay, the chatbot does not work, the phones are unanswered or cut off immediately. I suggest you contact Sharon White at John Lewis. Reviewed on: 25th September 2022

Felt personally rejected by a company I have done business with for over 40 years

Like the other reviewers, I experienced the same response - despite having a substantial income. John Lewis haven’t really explained why they’re making this change (which I can only assume is due to internal cost reasons, as it’s certainly not for their customer’s benefit). A really dreadful affair which is clearly damaging their brand at a time when they need it most! Reviewed on: 24th September 2022

BAD SERVICE WITH THE NEW CARD. NO CUSTOMER SERVICE.

Received my new card but can't even activate it at present, so it's no use. Phoned customer service, but after HOLDING 30 MINUTES I couldn't wait any longer - clearly not enough staff. Reviewed on: 24th September 2022

Declined

Applied for the card on an income of 38k and joint incomeof £50k, first class credit history and a mobile phone. Only reason I can think I was refused is I am in my 50's? Reviewed on: 23rd September 2022

My card keeps on being refused as 'invalid'

Good News: I seem to have been fairly lucky in getting my Newday card Bad News: It does not work! I have been refused by Tesco, Travelodge and DVLA with the error code (online) of invalid card number. In Tesco's it was simply refused. I rang Newday (waited for a long, long time) but finally got through, only to be told that I should contact the supplier (I was incredulous that Newday wanted me to sort it out by phoning Travelodge - although she provided me with the number!!!). This is Newday's problem to solve (three weeks and counting) and I have also written to John Lewis who must take responsibily for their subcontractors. Shambles. Reviewed on: 23rd September 2022

credit limit means i'll never use them again

fairly simple - been a card holder for years. buy big stuff from them with the card with decent credit limit. credit limit is now the cost of a big shop at waitrose. i'm changing card and who i shop with. morons. Reviewed on: 23rd September 2022

Goodbye JL

Like so many others, good income, excellent credit score, have had JL card for years and always paid off in full but retired and so rejected for replacement card. JL and Waitrose will lose the over £10,000 spend a year from this household. Shame on you. Reviewed on: 23rd September 2022

I was a loyal customer

I was happy to go through the process of applying for the new JL card. Appalling decision John Lewis to change. I have had my old credit card for 10+ yrs. credit limit 10k. Paid off each month. New credit limit £250! A joke. Just because my husband earns our money and despite saying what our household income is - this is all you can offer me? If you really wanted to put off loyal customers from shopping at Waitrose and John Lewis you have succeeded! Reviewed on: 23rd September 2022

Finally got accepted

After a month of complaining to John Lewis Finance about being rejected and getting nowhere, I saw someone on here say email John Lewis Press Office. Their website says it’s only for press - ignore that and write and complain. They handled my complaint in 24 hrs by passing it to the press office of Newday. I got a reply same day and a review. Apparently as a “responsible lender” they’d turned down my application due to a problem with my data - but to reapply. I tried tonight assuming another rejection (given other peoples experiences) - but they had obviously flagged my record - got my monthly £10k monthly limit matching my old card. So if you are struggling to get anyone in John Lewis to deal with your complaint, (and in my case that included the CEO - who never even acknowledged my email) then try this email address: (Ignore the bit that says journalist and press only) [email protected] Reviewed on: 22nd September 2022

Pathetic

The renewal of a new card is absolutely pathetic. Cannot understand why they cannot look at the history of the cardholder. Have now decided after 30 years that I shall not be making any major purchases from John Lewis or Waitrose. Same goes with their insurance. Reviewed on: 22nd September 2022

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