Write a review

Go to business site

John Lewis: Partnership Card reviews

Name: Partnership Card
Rating: 1.31 (890 reviews)

View other John Lewis products

1.31

Based on 890 reviews, last reviewed 27th Mar 2026

No new 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

20% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

88%

Latest highest rating:

4

The JLP card offers cashback based upon spending and... The JLP card offers cashback based upon spending and it is possible to generate £100+ cashback per year. Managing the account is straightforward via t... Read more Reviewed on: 22nd January 2026

Latest lowest rating:

1

I used my card to pay for petrol at my local Sainsbu... I used my card to pay for petrol at my local Sainsbury's. Later that day I received a message saying there was a suspicion of fraud. A simple glance a... Read more Reviewed on: 27th March 2026

Read all reviews See your review

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.

Smart Money People is the UK's leading financial services review and insight hub. Together, we can make financial services work better for everyone.

John Lewis Partnership Card reviews (890)

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

Appalling

Applied for the new JL Card. Previously held a card for in excess of 20 years, always paid the balance off in full and had a credit limit of £11,000. Offered £250 credit limit! When I went online to complain to New Day they said they could not manually increase the limit and would have to raise my concern as a complaint - too right. Looking at all the negative feedback I rather doubt they will do anything about this. Will continue to use my current JL card and then vote with my feet. New Day clearly only want people who have a lot of debt. Reviewed on: 5th September 2022

Rejected by new JL credit card provider despite excellent credit score

A long-standing JL credit card customer, high credit limit, paid off every month for over ten years... now rejected by the new provider, like so many other loyal (and creditworthy) customers. What a shame and a reputational disaster for John Lewis! Applied for Halifax, got a card immediately with the same high credit limit. Reviewed on: 5th September 2022

Disapointed after 25 years

New application for new John Lewis card declined. Three lines on a web page after 25 years of using the HSB card with no problems. We are so sorry. Based on the assessment of your details at this time, you are not eligible for the new Partnership Card. No other explaination. Can only assume it is ageism and the fact that we pay off our cards. Come on John Lewis you were my store of choice for years ......... is this anyway to treat your loyal customer base.? Oh of course NewDay wants all the people that rack up debt so that it makes money....... Very sad................. Reviewed on: 5th September 2022

Not recommended for new card

Member since 2000 with Partnership, never failed to pay off monthly balance. Not now eligible for JL new card company. They would only appear to want people who accrue debt. So much for being loyal to JL. made all major purchases through JL. Goodbye JL. Reviewed on: 5th September 2022

New card declined

Have had a Partnership card since 2004. Have no debts. Used card for all major purchases and new card declined. I have a significant income and have to assume this is ageism. One star because no option to give no stars. Reviewed on: 4th September 2022

Husband now also declined

I have already posted here for myself after I was declined JL credit card. My husband, the higher earner in our family, got his code letter yesterday and has now also been declined by New Day. We’ve spent thousands in JL stores over the years..we are supported by wages, pensions and interest from savings..what more do they want!! Who are they granting the card to for goodness sake? I’m thinking we are just too good at paying off our credit cards, we aren’t the kind of clientele they want, we make them no money!!! Brutal! Surely this should be causing JL some concern, if it’s not, this company has changed beyond measure, what a shame! Keep posting everybody, they have media people that might sit up and take notice! Reviewed on: 4th September 2022

LOYAL CUSTOMER AWFUL TREATMENT

I HAVE HAD A J.L. STORE CARD AND LATER CREDIT ONE FOR 55 YEARS .ALL PURCHASES OF HOUSEHOLD BIG ITEMS MADE AT J.L. ONLY.WAS GREAT SERVICE AND AFTER CARE. THIS IS A KICK IN THE TEETH,NOW I HAVE TO RE-APPLY.HAD NEARLY £6000 AVAILABLE.IF I APPLY PROBABLY NOT BE ALLOWED.ALWAYS PAY UP MONTHLY AND NEVER LATE.. JOHN LEWIS THIS IS RETRO-GRADE DECISION EVERYONE WILL GO ELSE WHERE Reviewed on: 4th September 2022

Declined transfer as good customer

I have the current card, no credit issues, use the card for the rewards and pay the full balance every month, Newday card transfer declined, I guess they don’t want people who do that, just people who don’t pay full balance every month therefore earning them interest charges- shame on you John Lewis, obviously will stop shopping at John Lewis and Waitrose! Reviewed on: 4th September 2022

It has a policy of alienating its loyal customers

Although my application for a new card seems to have gone quite smoothly, although I am waiting for the card it works o.k. in my Google wallet. However, NewDAY have inexplicably reduced my credit limit by £2000 for no apparent reason I will be taking this up with them. It is apparent that John Lewis now have a policy of alienating their loyal customers which was apparent when they introduced the latest user unfriendly 'MyWaitrose voucher scheme which is unusable by many of their traditional customers and is less beneficial than all their competitors' schemes. Reviewed on: 4th September 2022

Declined and appalled

I take comfort that I'm not alone and like others here, no reason to be rejected. JLs first quarter figures, 2023, will make for interesting reading. Inefficient transfer process, inadequate customer service, shambles of a company. Hope Andy Street reads this. Zero stars! Shame on you all, no longer a company to be proud to work for. Who's paying tor your free food? Reviewed on: 4th September 2022

Do you have a different John Lewis product?

Share your experiences with products to help others make smarter financial decisions and learn more about different products available. Write a review

Are you a business? Get insights, reply to reviews, invite customers and understand their needs

Alternative products

Fluid Credit Card
from NewDay 4.37 from 103 reviews
Student Credit Card
from NatWest 4.31 from 6 reviews
Everyday Credit Card
from Santander 4.13 from 22 reviews

Want to see more from John Lewis?

Travel Insurance
from John Lewis 4.75 from 3 reviews
Breakdown Insurance
from John Lewis 4.00 from 1 reviews
Home insurance
from John Lewis 2.05 from 77 reviews

View all products

Join Smart Money People

Keep up to date on ratings of your favourite businesses. Find out about our awards and write new reviews with ease

Create an account

News, guides and insight from our team

View resource hub