John Lewis and Waitrose Partnership Card review 2023
- Representative example:
- When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 27.95% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 27.9% APR (variable).
- Earn rate (at select partners)
- 1.25 points per £1 spent
- Earn rate (elsewhere)
- 1 point per £1 spent
- Account fee
- £0
Our verdict
John Lewis Finance has relaunched the Partnership credit card with consumer card issuer NewDay.
If you're a fan of John Lewis and Waitrose, this credit card can earn you loyalty points wherever you use it, and at an enhanced rate when you use it at John Lewis or Waitrose. The points you accumulate can be exchanged for John Lewis and Waitrose vouchers three times a year, in units of £5. Any extra points above the nearest £5 are carried over into the next reward period. Points can be spent online or in-store at any John Lewis store, or Waitrose supermarket.
To draw in new customers, there's an introductory bonus plus introductory 0% periods on both purchases and balance transfers. So if you already have an outstanding balance with another credit card provider, you can apply to bring it across to this card, and pay no interest on that balance for a set period (after which the card's standard rate kicks in). Alternatively if you're anticipating a large expenditure, you can use the card's 0% on purchases period to spread the cost without incurring interest.
You'd expect decent customer service from John Lewis and Waitrose, and indeed it does offer a customer support helpline, charged at local rate. You can also register for online account servicing or download the free mobile app, to carry out a range of tasks including making payments, viewing your current balance and recent statements, requesting a balance transfer or credit limit change or switching to paperless monthly statements.
You can also request cards for up to three other nominated people on your account, which could help you earn points faster (just remember you'll be solely responsible for the card debt). This can be done online, via the app, or in a John Lewis Partnership or Waitrose store.
Ultimately, there are longer 0% deals around for both purchases and balance transfers, and there are better ongoing interest rates out there. However, for regular Waitrose/John Lewis shoppers who don't need longer offers, and don't plan on carrying a balance from month to month, the perks could make this a card worth carrying.
Pros
- Six months to spread the cost of purchases
- Earn points on day-to-day spending
- No annual fee
Cons
- Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
- Relatively high balance transfer fee
- You may be offered an opening credit limit as low as £250
Details
Product Overview
| Issuer | NewDay Ltd |
| Network | Mastercard |
| Representative APR | 27.9% APR (variable) |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Loyalty scheme | Points |
| Incentive | Earn 5 points for every £4 spent on eligible purchases at John Lewis and Waitrose and 1 point for every £4 spent elsewhere. 1 point = 1p (min 500pts) |
| Incentive on opening | Earn 3.75% in points towards gift vouchers on eligible spend at John Lewis and Waitrose in the first 90 days from account opening. Terms apply. |
| Purchases | 0% for 6 months reverting to 27.95% |
| Purchases interest-free period (days) | 56 |
| Balance transfers | 27.95% |
| Potential costs | ★★★★★ |
| Doing its job | ★★★★★ |
| Extras | ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder rating | ★★★★★ |
| Overall customer rating | Not yet rated |
Fees and charges
| Minimum monthly payment | 1% or £5 (whichever is greater) or the total of any interest, default fees and charges plus 1% of the outstanding balance. |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Balance transfer fee | 5% |
| Foreign usage charge (EU) | 2.75% |
| Foreign usage charge (rest of world) | 2.75% |
| Cash advance fee | 3% (min. £3) |
| Late payment fee | £12 |
| Exceeding limit fee | £12 |
| Additional card fee | £0 |
| Dormancy fee | £0 |
Application Requirements
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Minimum income | £5,000 |
| Availability | Available to new customers |
Find out which cards you are eligible for
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John Lewis stores have been a fixture of our major high streets since 1864, when the first one opened on London’s Oxford Street. The company is one of the best-known employee-owned businesses in the UK, with its staff all given a share of its annual profits.
Like many of its competitors, John Lewis’ expansion of its business has seen it set up its own financial services arm, which offers a range of other products besides the John Lewis credit card. Its card is provided by NewDay, and is issued on the Mastercard network, which means it’s accepted in more than 35 million outlets around the world.
How does this card compare?
The Partnership card
The competition
Repayment options
You can make manual repayments through John Lewis Finance's app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0300 175 9829). Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.
A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and either damaging your credit score, getting hit with a penalty fee (£12) or losing any promotional rates as a result.
You can arrange a direct debit for repayments when you apply for the credit card. The table below shows the options available.
Choose from the following direct debit options for your monthly repayments:
| Minimum amount | Fixed amount | Fixed percentage | Full amount |
|---|---|---|---|
How to apply for the Partnership Card
Completing the secure online application form takes about 15 minutes, or alternatively you can apply in store. But first, check that you meet the eligibility requirements. You'll need to be a resident of the UK (excluding the Channel Islands), unless you're serving in the Armed Forces. Your annual income should be more than £6750, and you'll need a good credit history, with no history of County Court Judgments or bankruptcy. You must ensure that you can meet the repayments as missed payments incur a charge and could have severe consequences on your ability to obtain future credit.
Frequently asked questions
What credit limit will I get with the John Lewis Partnership Credit Card?
If John Lewis Finance is able to offer you this deal, the offer will specify a personalised credit limit based on John Lewis Finance's assessment of your situation. The minimum limit offered on this card is £250 and John Lewis Finance does not specify a maximum. Once you've had the card for a while and shown John Lewis Finance that you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.
Can I withdraw cash using the John Lewis Partnership Credit Card?
Although it's possible, withdrawing cash from a credit card account is generally not a good idea, as "cash-like transactions" (such as withdrawing cash at an ATM, getting cashback at the till, spending at a casino or buying currency) often incur steep fees and/or higher rates of interest.
The cash advance fee on the John Lewis Partnership Credit Card is 3% (min. £3). For example, if you withdraw £50, you'll incur a fee of £3.00. Withdraw £250 and you'll incur a fee of £7.50.
The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 37.95%, which is 36% more than the standard purchase rate (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 56 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).
How much does it cost to use the John Lewis Partnership Credit Card abroad?
Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 2.75% charge. For example, if you spend 200 euros (£171.57), it'll cost you around £4.72 in fees.
What is the minimum payment on the John Lewis Partnership Credit Card?
Each month you must pay at least 1% of your balance at that point or £5.00 – whichever of the 2 figures is greater. So if you had, say, £450.00 outstanding, you'd pay £5.00, and if you had £2,000.00 outstanding, you'd pay £20.00.
Paying only the minimum required amount each month is generally not advisable as it tends to be a very expensive way to borrow money which can lead to persistent debt.
Can I request an additional John Lewis Partnership Credit Card?
Yes, in fact, you can request up to 3 more. There's no fee for additional cards. Plus, with additional cards, you could earn points at a faster rate. Bear in mind that card debt accrued by additional cardholders is the sole responsibility of the account holder – not the additional cardholder.
Finder credit card ratings
Our experts score rewards credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like welcome bonuses, introductory and ongoing earn-rates, any caps or restrictions on the points you can earn, plus the potential costs involved with running the card both in the short and longer term.
You can read more about our scoring criteria on our credit card methodology page.
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