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John Lewis: Partnership Card reviews

Name: Partnership Card
Rating: 1.31 (890 reviews)

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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

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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 (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

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

Security hold for over 1 week - no advice as to why or how to release

i have had a JL card for many years. Always paid on time. No issues. Without any advice or call, my card was blocked. Phoned customer services & all they would tell me was that they could do nothing or advise anything as it was with 'security' and they would call me. Heard nothing within 24hrs, so called the Lost & Stolen line in the assumption they may know something or even be the mystery 'security' team. Again, no answers except advice to wait for security to call. I asked how long this would be and was told, maybe 3-4 days, which left me not a happy bunny & I queried how that could possibly be considered customer service? What would happen if we were overseas and depending on it? No help, just a remark that they would flag it on the system. One week later....I called customer services, pretty irate at this point. Same thing - offer of a flag on account. Asked to speak to a supervisor -no. Asked to be put through to complaints - no. Just gave me a complaint number and said that hopefully someone from security would call yesterday or today. Still waiting. I compared the service to dealing with a government department when speaking to them. I was wrong - this is much worse. Apologies to government officials. And JL is supposed to be a company that prides itself on customer service! Reviewed on: 3rd August 2022

John Lewis Partnership card is antiquated and a liability

Refused a transaction for no reason, when I called them they came up with a list of security questions, I gat one wrong and the card was blocked even though I got them all right a second time. Direct Debts declined Blocked for 7 Days with no answers to genuine concerns, Terrible Reviewed on: 26th July 2022

Beyond rubbish

Absolutely rubbish. Every time you want to pay your bill you have to ring and queue on the phone. I thought it would be a good idea to use this and get the reward vouchers for John Lewis. I got 2 x £5.00 in the whole time I used it. Cut up and in the bin where it belongs and back to the old faithful M & S credit card. Please save yourself the anxiety. Reviewed on: 23rd July 2022

Hopeless

Like a reviewer in June, my J Lewis Mastercard has recently been rejected for online bookings and purchases. I rang JL and was told it was not them but the other companies' systems which were not updated. These are companies I have successfully used many times before. Dorothy Percival Reviewed on: 21st July 2022

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