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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

Turned Down for New Card!

Friends with impeccable credit scores told me they had been refused for the new JL card. I recieved an email invitation from JL yesterday to apply for mine. It was refused despite my own impeccable score. It can only be on account of my age. I am beyond insulted. Reviewed on: 24th August 2022

Rejected by new John Lewis credit card provider despite impeccable credit score

Just applied for the new credit card as part of John Lewis provider switch, was rejected despite excellent credentials, impeccable credit score, always having paid monthly balance in full, and had an exceptionally high credit limit. Shocking. No support from John Lewis themselves. Reviewed on: 23rd August 2022

Indirect age discrimination

If you haven't got a computer - like my 85 year old mother + father (a decades-long partner) - how do you apply? Letter today from Partnership Card arrives today saying "Account Closed" - no clue you can apply for new card. Mother in a panic now. Ring the number on letter - "We are HSBC not the new provider so can't tell you anything". Ring new provider, New Day, after getting number from website - something my mother can't do. Answer "Apply online or go into store and use the tablet there". JL - this is absolutely terrible service and not thought through from a customer experience stand point and completely disenfranchises a big chunk of your more mature customer base. A sad and common story these days and I am afraid JL you have just become the same as the rest. Reviewed on: 22nd August 2022

Hopeless New Card Process

Just tried to apply for new card . System down . Rang numbers provided cut call off after 2 seconds . Credit limit cut by 25% despite being a card holder for decades and paid off completely every month . Didn't allow to add second card holder in application . Not able to say stick with current credit limit . Hopeless start . Starting to get Chase or some other card as a back up . I can't believe JL have allowed such a shambles to the start of the new card . Not reassuring this new aoufit are any good at all . Reviewed on: 22nd August 2022

New card declined

As in accounts below, my husband has just been refused the new card having held a John Lewis card for many years, paid in full every month. A phone call resulted in the instruction that he had to write by mail to explain this, and the case would be looked into in due course. What rubbish, and what a way to discourage customers. Get your act together John Lewis. Reviewed on: 22nd August 2022

Loyal customer declined for new john lewis partnership card

Myself and my husband have had a partnership card for over 25 years- always paid off in full every month. Was stunned when our application for the new card was declined. Contacted both jl and Newday but neither were able to give any explanation. A number of friends have also had the same experience. Very disappointed in john lewis - this will definitely damage their brand Reviewed on: 21st August 2022

New Card Provider terrible mistake

Had a partnership card for over a decade, never a problem and usually paid off in full. New card sent to wrong address and credit limit cut by 80%. New provider won’t look into it but admit he has had lots of complaints about lowered credit limits. Very disappointed with John Lewis who say it’s not to do with them. Card cancelled and now have an M&S card with better rate. Reviewed on: 20th August 2022

No thank you

Not received new card yet … certainly won’t be using it either !!! Phoned to get balance on my partnership card after recently coming out of hospital.. just to know exact amount outstanding!!! Was asked numerous questions ,, which of course I answered… only to be told my card was being investigated and couldn’t give me any information or be able to use my card !! I am 74 years old and never owed anyone anything in my life !! Like other people on this site I was told I would have to wait for the security people to contact me regarding The matter within 8 working days !!!!!!!! Unbelievable! Cannot believe a company can get away with this !!!! Certainly won’t be using the new card !! I am more than disgusted and disappointed .. I am fuming !! I am relieved to see that I am only one of a number that obviously feel this way ! John Lewis !!! You have made a huge blunder !! Always paid in full monthly for many many years !! Would give zero stars . But not possible to do !! Reviewed on: 16th August 2022

New credit card

JL are changing to a new credit card Forget it !!! it is a not worth it so much paperwork JL have made a big mistake and they will loose a lot of customers Back to visa card Reviewed on: 13th August 2022

Credit card change to New Day

Have tried to apply for the New Day JL card and been refused. Have had my current JL card since 2016 and paid off the card consistently every month and have a big credit limit. Getting nowhere trying to sort with JL or New Day. Its JL brand all over the card and they don't care, shocking approach from them, they should be ensuring a smooth transition to the new card for existing customers and they are not. Very poor show JL and I'm sure a number of there customers will be faced with the same problem. Look forward to hearing from others and who knows maybe JL. Reviewed on: 13th August 2022

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