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

Used to be good. Now appalling

I used to like Partnership Card and have spent many thousands on it. This year, for the first time I needed to dispute two transactions. The customer service on the two occasions - just the time you test the quality of protection a card supposedly provides - was complex, very slow and extremely unhelpful. More recently, if you try to get hold of them on the phone you will be left waiting for over an hour. Try to log into your account using the new website? Forget it. It's almost impossible to even create a new user name. I have learned to my cost to finally cease being so loyal and find another card company... Reviewed on: 18th November 2016

Appalling customer service!!!

Been on the phone for over 30 minutes trying to pay my JLF credit card, had the same issues last month and they charged me interest on top!!! A complete and utter abysmal and amateurish service. Reviewed on: 17th November 2016

So The Problem Is This...

When HSBC changed systems for the Partnership card, they only migrated the card details of active cards, not ones that were previously used on the account. So when anyone with a replacement card tried paying, they rejected the payment. This is why so many people have got a problem at the moment, myself included. The solution is to set up a new payment from your bank with the new card details, and the payment should go through. If you call them (I used +44 121 214 5732) then they will immediately credit you with the late fee and the interest. At least, that's what they told me - I'll find out next month if that was cobblers or not. Moral of the story? Migrate old card details. Or at least tell your customers. Reviewed on: 17th November 2016

This has gone from great to disastrous

I always found JLFS great - customer service was prompt and friendly and efficient. But the new website is a disaster and the response times when you call are terrible. 35 minutes on hold so far and still no response or even any indication of when my call will be answered other than "as soon as possible". I'm now looking for an alternative card provider. Reviewed on: 15th November 2016

Good value rewards

The Partnership Card has one of the best Reward schemes currently available in a credit card. By using it regularly I expectto get almost £100 in John Lewis vouchers each year. Reviewed on: 14th November 2016

Blocked payments

Not informed of changes, payment accepted and later rejected, twice. Received letter complaining that I hadn't paid. On phoning 03453003833 asked to key in card number..."I'm sorry, there appears to be a problem" phone rings but no answer. On phoning 03456080764 get an immediate reply which was unhelpful. I was told to use a different authorisation code and that my card number had changed...it hadn't! Paid using my debit card...still not sure if accepted! Reviewed on: 12th November 2016

Used to be good - now utterly dismal

John Lewis Partnership Card used to be a safe way to shop. However, having spent around £120k over the last 5 years on it, I had two incidents this year where I finally needed to make a claim. Partnership made it extremely difficult. They require you to submit lengthy paper forms, don't respond, don't call back - and often leave you hanging on the phone for up to an hour each time. I have now decided to leave Partnership as they are very keen to take your money but when you have a problem they won't help you. Avoid... Reviewed on: 12th November 2016

Appalling Credit Card

My credit card has been blocked twice in the last 2 weeks and is still blocked. My wife's account is also blocked, there has been no notification or explanation of the blocking. What is the purpose of an online secure message system if it is not used. At least send an automatic message to say what/why it has happened. Reviewed on: 11th November 2016

Apalling customer service

On checking my bank statement I noticed that the direct debit that has been set up for over a year had not been taken for the November payment. Like other reviewers getting through to the call line is an impossibility at any time of day. I contacted John Lewis head office and was advised that it was HSBC s problem and not theirs !! I was told to contact the lost card section and on actually speaking to a person was advised that the direct debit had been cancelled and they said that my bank had done this !! I had not cancelled the direct debit but checked with my bank ,which confirmed that the direct debit had NOT been cancelled. I then phoned JLFS again and was then told that perhaps they had made an error but that they could not reinstate the direct debit and that I would have to complete another direct debit authority. I the meantime they would cancel the late payment charge and interest but was told to pay the balance by fast payment or by cheque. John Lewis used to pride themselves on their customer service and by promoting their credit card and must accept ownership of the problem but I find their dismissive attitude arrogant in the extreme and when this saga is eventually sorted out I will cancel my card and avoid the store at all costs in future. What ever happened to customer service and apologising for THEIR mistakes. Reviewed on: 10th November 2016

a loan shark would be better to easier to deal with

I've been trying to close my partnership account for 3 months, first they say on the phone when you try and close that they keep the account live for 6 months in case you change your mind, no thanks close the account, then they say you will probably get blank statements for three months erm why, in case you change your mind...I won't, sends letter, gets response, quote " to assist us in closing your account we will not issue a new card (which is due in 2018) during this period you will still be responsible for any transactions. Im not sure what part of I want to close the account they don't understand, at this,point I wanted firm written correspondence the account was closed, there is no way I want to be in limbo until 2018 in case they decide I had made a transaction, which I wouldn't as the card had been destroyed. So I wrote to there complaints team, took the, 6 weeks to acknowledge my complaint, they confirm in the letter they would provide a final response in 10 days, 15 days later I'm still waiting...I simply want to close the account and want written confirmation its closed..this is the worst financial institution I have ever had the misfortune to deal with, do yourself a favour avoid this so called partnership card at all costs and got to an real hint street lender for a card..I've never had this issue ever before. Reviewed on: 7th November 2016

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

Platinum Credit Card
from Lloyds Bank 4.03 from 52 reviews
Marbles Credit Card
from NewDay 4.90 from 540 reviews
Flex Purchase credit card
from Monzo 4.97 from 3086 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