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John Lewis: Partnership Card reviews

Name: Partnership Card
Rating: 1.86 (894 reviews)

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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

in the past 90 days

88%

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

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

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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 (894)

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

Partnership Card

I tried to find out what type of card Newday would issue (Mastercard or visa) as the main reason I had the partnership card was because it was a Mastercard and I carry a visa also. Couldn’t get a response so ditched John Lewis and opted for Virgin Money who assigned a decent credit limit . Reviewed on: 8th September 2022

Feeling insulted and really rather sad!

Like many others - rejected for new card. Had card for many years, no problems, paid on time and in full. Answered truthfully - now retired and ... possible problems ahead ill health etc.... however joint income high enough £50K? Good credit. What is the problem. I have a Tesco card which I can highly recommend - now considering M&S or Sainsburys. Advised husband not to bother with reapplying for John Lewis. Already limiting JLP spending. What a shame - they have been so good in the past. Reviewed on: 7th September 2022

Appalling and no awareness of customer care

Won’t repeat our similar experiences re being loyal, long-standing, solvent customers. As I use the current card I tell anyone in earshot about this stupid and uncaring decision. Have contacted Which magazine and BBC radio 4 You and Yours consumer programme. We don’t have mobiles so as we tend to be older this is probably unlawful indirect age discrimination. Any lawyers out there? My husband has just secured a card with Tesco and with a landline which you can select. Oh if in want of a cosmetic procedure (not) JL will be providing fillers etc. Sounds desperate and agree after this experience, won’t be surprised if the ship is deserted. Just feel sorry for loyal staff who weren’t properly briefed and supported and who are having to face angry and shocked customers as a result of the decisions of their rather out of touch ‘leaders’. Reviewed on: 7th September 2022

Lose of JLP credit card

My Experience / comments on JLP card - change to new provider covered on comments already written by others . Utterly appalling service , I will now go out of my way not to shop JLP in the future . Consequently applied for M & S card - similar points offer , approved instantly ! Conclusion JLP not interested in high spend customers who clear card monthly , their lose on so many levels . Reviewed on: 7th September 2022

Poor customer service on new credit card

After receiving my new card albeit in Apple wallet, have been waiting 10+ days for physical card which still hasn’t arrived. Was charged £22 to transfer balance from old partnership card, which was advertised as free. Impossible to get through on phone due to high call volume. Very dissatisfied John Lewis!!!! Reviewed on: 6th September 2022

Anti pensioners

Refused the new JL credit card despite holding one for years! Suspect it is because I'm now a pensioner and was honest. So Waitrose.. you are expensive and now I will not receive vouchers for spending..you will lose my, and probably thousands of other previously loyal customer" business. My bank is very pleased to give me a card! Reviewed on: 6th September 2022

Dreadful Service .

Having had a JL card for as long as I remember I actually won’t even bother to apply for the new one . I object to having to reapply. Also why have they now relocated their call centres in Cairo . It didn’t work for other companies who listened to their customers and bought them back to this country. To add insult to injury I have just had an email from John Lewis asking me to take part in a survey about their Partnership Card addressed to Christopher . Who is Christopher? Reviewed on: 6th September 2022

New card from new providerrefused

Retired, had card for years. Asset rich, managed income. Max credit score. No reason for this at all. John Lewis have shot themselves in the foot by the look of these reviews! Reviewed on: 6th September 2022

New partnership card

I have gone from a £10K credit limit to a £250 limit. This does not even cover my weekly shop!! Awful customer loyalty service. Complaints service non-existent. Will not be using my new card as it is completely useless!! Very disappointing customer service from John Lewis. I expect they will lose an awful lot of loyal business. Reviewed on: 6th September 2022

Oh Dear!

I, like many other loyal John Lewis customers, have just been rejected for the new Credit card. I am currently 50 minutes in, on the phone, waiting to speak to someone on customer 'care' to find out why - but from the hundreds of reviews posted here, I can see that I am going to get little feedback. What a massive own goal - thousands of loyal customers will be taking their customer elsewhere... not sure that they thought this move through..... Reviewed on: 6th September 2022

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