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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

Continually cancelling my cards

I am, perhaps, a bad customer for a credit card company. I spend a lot on my card and pay it off every month, collecting the rewards and enjoying the 6 weeks' free credit and the consumer protections it affords whilst not paying any fees or interest. So... I understand why a credit card might wish for me not to be a customer of theirs. However, instead of telling me to my face, John Lewis instead continually cancel my cards citing reasons of "a chance there might be fraud on the account some time soon". Note: fraud has never occurred and it often happens when my balance has got large within a month (usually when I most need my cards). There are a few things here: they cancel both cards (if a card had been cloned, it would only impact one of the cards, so prima facie it sounds like they're lying). Also, when I first got the card they asked me to settle my account after only two weeks of using it, so they're clearly uneasy about the amount I spend on it each month (although I have always paid it off in full). Essentially, they appear to be dealing with me dishonestly and it is very worrying to me that a financial services provider and a brand like John Lewis appear to be engaging in dishonest behaviour. I have closed my account now and as a final insult they told me I would forfeit my rewards points. Seems like I'm going to have to find another supermarket to shop at..... Reviewed on: 19th September 2016

I should have received an answer to three queries but not a word.

I had received a £10 voucher from Partnership for purchases I had made earlier but because the code clearly showed only three letters (clearly printed) I could not proceed to use it with a follow up purchase on line - I think it needed 7 characters. Having scratched the covering to reveal the code the voucher then became void. I sent off an email and received one saying I would here from them within 48 hours. This didn't happen so I sent of another email and apart from the within 48 hours I again received not a word. After a while I rang and explained what had and hadn't happened. The operator needed me to hold the line whilst she went to consult with, I presume, someone senior. She returned to tell me to post the voucher to them and another one would be issued. Wishful thinking on my part to expect a reply as no correspondence, so far, has been received from Partnership on that. All this went on well prior to me having a hip replacement; I am now back home after the surgery and well on the way to recovery. So I would respectfully love to know just how things are proceeding with any correspondence that will (I hope) be coming from your end. Reviewed on: 29th July 2016

Great Bonuses

The partnership card is great for large purchases as you have the added security of buying on a credit card, but also you get points for each purchase which are then redeemed for John Lewis vouchers. I think this is a great loyalty scheme, and points add up quickly. Obviously making sure you can pay of the full amount as quickly as possible is the sensible thing, but it's a great choice for a credit card. Reviewed on: 24th December 2015

Wouldn't change to another!

I've held a Partnership Card for 8 years now, having changed from a First Direct one. I pay in full every month, so have never looked for a card with a low charge, but I do like one that gives me a little something for spending my money. With this card, I get John Lewis vouchers that I can spend at JL, or Waitrose for some treats. I can check my balance on line and it's easy enough to speak to a 'real' person if I want to - have to say, I can't remember the last time I did this! I've never been bombarded with offers to increase my limit but every month I get leaflets for all John Lewis products, in with my statement. There to accept, or not. Overall, I can't fault it. Reviewed on: 27th October 2015

Balance Transfer Offer

JL Partnership Card sent me a letter offering me 0% interest on balance transfers to the card until December 2016. Nice offer, but not wanted! Again! I don't know what it is with JL, but this year I've had 2-3 unsolicited offers aimed at getting me to increase my limit or transfer balances - I don't want or need them! Why encourage more debt JL, does the penguin need an new igloo! Reviewed on: 2nd September 2015

Outstanding customer service

Had no issues with this credit card, found to have excellent customer service. Seem to offer a high amount of credit. Great if you shop at waitrose, as the vouchers come in handy. Reviewed on: 22nd April 2015

great customer service at all time

i had to call in for some credit card offer the other day. my call was answered immediately and the person who answered my call was super friendly and polite. she was also very knowledgeable, able to answer all my questions without creating more confusions at all. also, never pressured me to purchase or sign up anything on the spot. the best customer service in my life!! Reviewed on: 17th April 2015

Great customer service. Easy use. Good reward scheme

John Lewis credit card - great customer service with sociable opening hours. Good reward scheme and rates. Reviewed on: 7th April 2015

Very customer centric and responsive

I recently received a letter telling me that my credit amount on this card had been increased, but if I didn't want the increase just to ring them and they would leave it as it was. I didn't want the increase, they kept it where I wanted it with one phone call and I didn't get charged for the call. They responded quickly - this made me happy Reviewed on: 9th February 2015

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