John Lewis Partnership Card

artyboy

WillPS said:

artyboy said:

Marchitiello said:

wendineill said:

… She is furious at her treatment from JL as they aren’t even transferring her account to their new provider.  An you help?

As explained early in this thread can you explain to your mum that JL had nothing to do with the credit facility issued to your mum under the JLP branding and that as such they did not own the credit linked nor the debt portfolio, so any other provider of such facility (that did not actually but the account and debt portfolio) would need to make their own financial decision before accepting new customers.

But of course it will never be that simple - once JL allowed their name to be associated the the branding of that credit facility, they became at least somewhat responsible in the eyes of their customers. Especially the ones that have had a JL card for many years thinking that it was a brand they could trust!

In which case my advice would be complain to John Lewis (but don't expect much) and recalibrate ones expectations to be more in line with reality moving forwards.

The problem is that there are many people, probably quite old (although I'll no doubt get told off for even mentioning that!) who have had JL credit/charge accounts since the year dot, probably do much of their shopping in Waitrose, and are going to really lose faith in what they saw as a safe and solid institution.

It's very easy for us better calibrated people (to use your turn of phrase) to rationalise that the financial side and the retail side are separate - and as I mentioned earlier, we've ditched the card entirely - but for the majority of customers, it's all one brand, and this mess will hurt JLP's reputation with a fair chunk of its long standing client base.

Whether it was HSBC or JL that pulled the plug, I'm just surprised that a better transition or different new financial provider wasn't possible...

WillPS

artyboy said:

WillPS said:

artyboy said:

Marchitiello said:

wendineill said:

… She is furious at her treatment from JL as they aren’t even transferring her account to their new provider.  An you help?

As explained early in this thread can you explain to your mum that JL had nothing to do with the credit facility issued to your mum under the JLP branding and that as such they did not own the credit linked nor the debt portfolio, so any other provider of such facility (that did not actually but the account and debt portfolio) would need to make their own financial decision before accepting new customers.

But of course it will never be that simple - once JL allowed their name to be associated the the branding of that credit facility, they became at least somewhat responsible in the eyes of their customers. Especially the ones that have had a JL card for many years thinking that it was a brand they could trust!

In which case my advice would be complain to John Lewis (but don't expect much) and recalibrate ones expectations to be more in line with reality moving forwards.

The problem is that there are many people, probably quite old (although I'll no doubt get told off for even mentioning that!) who have had JL credit/charge accounts since the year dot, probably do much of their shopping in Waitrose, and are going to really lose faith in what they saw as a safe and solid institution.

It's very easy for us better calibrated people (to use your turn of phrase) to rationalise that the financial side and the retail side are separate - and as I mentioned earlier, we've ditched the card entirely - but for the majority of customers, it's all one brand, and this mess will hurt JLP's reputation with a fair chunk of its long standing client base.

Whether it was HSBC or JL that pulled the plug, I'm just surprised that a better transition or different new financial provider wasn't possible...

Why are you surprised? There is no precedent whatsoever for the nonbanking partner in a co-branded credit card moving their customer base wholesale when they change to a different banking partner. IHG, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Asda, Avios, Marriott and no doubt more I'm forgetting in the last 10 years have been through a similar process and none of them resulted in customers being moved enmasse to the new banking partner's card.

If you want to build a long term relationship with a bank then you really should be building a long term relationship with a bank rather than a brand name stuck on another bank's cards.

If you are frustrated about JLP's treatment of their customers then complain and/or join the millions the customers desserting them.

CSH1

I won't be applying for the new card, I also have a M&S rewards card and Halifax Clarity card so will use them, Halifax Clarity was only got for trips abroad but they have offered 0.5% cashback for 3 months so I will wind down use of the Partnership card from September and pay it off and use the Halifax card instead then re-evaluate in the New Year, seeing what offers there are if I feel I need another card.  

I have been put off by the low credit limits given especially as I am early retired so on a not very high pension income but supplemented by savings and the fact that Amazon are parting company after not very long.

WillPS

CSH1 said:

I won't be applying for the new card, I also have a M&S rewards card and Halifax Clarity card so will use them, Halifax Clarity was only got for trips abroad but they have offered 0.5% cashback for 3 months so I will wind down use of the Partnership card from September and pay it off and use the Halifax card instead then re-evaluate in the New Year, seeing what offers there are if I feel I need another card.  

I have been put off by the low credit limits given especially as I am early retired so on a not very high pension income but supplemented by savings and the fact that Amazon are parting company after not very long.

This is a very sensible approach. It also allows the JLFS credit limit time to fall off your credit report so it shouldn't be a blocker in terms of obtaining further credit by then.

artyboy

WillPS said:

artyboy said:

WillPS said:

artyboy said:

Marchitiello said:

wendineill said:

… She is furious at her treatment from JL as they aren’t even transferring her account to their new provider.  An you help?

As explained early in this thread can you explain to your mum that JL had nothing to do with the credit facility issued to your mum under the JLP branding and that as such they did not own the credit linked nor the debt portfolio, so any other provider of such facility (that did not actually but the account and debt portfolio) would need to make their own financial decision before accepting new customers.

But of course it will never be that simple - once JL allowed their name to be associated the the branding of that credit facility, they became at least somewhat responsible in the eyes of their customers. Especially the ones that have had a JL card for many years thinking that it was a brand they could trust!

In which case my advice would be complain to John Lewis (but don't expect much) and recalibrate ones expectations to be more in line with reality moving forwards.

The problem is that there are many people, probably quite old (although I'll no doubt get told off for even mentioning that!) who have had JL credit/charge accounts since the year dot, probably do much of their shopping in Waitrose, and are going to really lose faith in what they saw as a safe and solid institution.

It's very easy for us better calibrated people (to use your turn of phrase) to rationalise that the financial side and the retail side are separate - and as I mentioned earlier, we've ditched the card entirely - but for the majority of customers, it's all one brand, and this mess will hurt JLP's reputation with a fair chunk of its long standing client base.

Whether it was HSBC or JL that pulled the plug, I'm just surprised that a better transition or different new financial provider wasn't possible...

Why are you surprised? There is no precedent whatsoever for the nonbanking partner in a co-branded credit card moving their customer base wholesale when they change to a different banking partner. IHG, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Asda, Avios, Marriott and no doubt more I'm forgetting in the last 10 years have been through a similar process and none of them resulted in customers being moved enmasse to the new banking partner's card.

If you want to build a long term relationship with a bank then you really should be building a long term relationship with a bank rather than a brand name stuck on another bank's cards.

If you are frustrated about JLP's treatment of their customers then complain and/or join the millions the customers desserting them.

My points are observational - I don't feel frustrated because it affects me directly (other than accepting losing the fringe benefit of using the card to buy foreign currency with JL). I will still be walking to my local Waitrose most days to get my groceries, and paying for them on my Amex, as I always have!

It's more a general sense of frustration that it appears, prima facie, to have been poorly managed. The fact that there's no precedent and it hasn't been done before doesn't mean it can't be done well the first time. I have nothing directly to complain to JL about, but I'd be very surprised if they are thinking "this is going well..."

WillPS

artyboy said:

WillPS said:

artyboy said:

WillPS said:

artyboy said:

Marchitiello said:

wendineill said:

… She is furious at her treatment from JL as they aren’t even transferring her account to their new provider.  An you help?

As explained early in this thread can you explain to your mum that JL had nothing to do with the credit facility issued to your mum under the JLP branding and that as such they did not own the credit linked nor the debt portfolio, so any other provider of such facility (that did not actually but the account and debt portfolio) would need to make their own financial decision before accepting new customers.

But of course it will never be that simple - once JL allowed their name to be associated the the branding of that credit facility, they became at least somewhat responsible in the eyes of their customers. Especially the ones that have had a JL card for many years thinking that it was a brand they could trust!

In which case my advice would be complain to John Lewis (but don't expect much) and recalibrate ones expectations to be more in line with reality moving forwards.

The problem is that there are many people, probably quite old (although I'll no doubt get told off for even mentioning that!) who have had JL credit/charge accounts since the year dot, probably do much of their shopping in Waitrose, and are going to really lose faith in what they saw as a safe and solid institution.

It's very easy for us better calibrated people (to use your turn of phrase) to rationalise that the financial side and the retail side are separate - and as I mentioned earlier, we've ditched the card entirely - but for the majority of customers, it's all one brand, and this mess will hurt JLP's reputation with a fair chunk of its long standing client base.

Whether it was HSBC or JL that pulled the plug, I'm just surprised that a better transition or different new financial provider wasn't possible...

Why are you surprised? There is no precedent whatsoever for the nonbanking partner in a co-branded credit card moving their customer base wholesale when they change to a different banking partner. IHG, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Asda, Avios, Marriott and no doubt more I'm forgetting in the last 10 years have been through a similar process and none of them resulted in customers being moved enmasse to the new banking partner's card.

If you want to build a long term relationship with a bank then you really should be building a long term relationship with a bank rather than a brand name stuck on another bank's cards.

If you are frustrated about JLP's treatment of their customers then complain and/or join the millions the customers desserting them.

My points are observational - I don't feel frustrated because it affects me directly (other than accepting losing the fringe benefit of using the card to buy foreign currency with JL). I will still be walking to my local Waitrose most days to get my groceries, and paying for them on my Amex, as I always have!

It's more a general sense of frustration that it appears, prima facie, to have been poorly managed. The fact that there's no precedent and it hasn't been done before doesn't mean it can't be done well the first time. I have nothing directly to complain to JL about, but I'd be very surprised if they are thinking "this is going well..."

Fair enough, apologies for misunderstanding.

I can certainly agree that JL haven't covered themselves in glory with this, and to ask customers to proactively apply for a card which is in rewards terms is no improvement at all is a very poor experience.

JL are pretty much the epitome of poor management though, so it's not surprising really. They've coasted off their reputation for a long time and hubristically expanded without making sure they were doing so in a sustainable, profitable way. They're in a tailspin and I don't expect much other than the southern Waitrose stores to remain in a decade's time. It would be entirely fitting if they haven't fully thought through the implications of what they've done and find in time that it has hurt far more than it helped.

dunstonh

Received my invite yesterday to change over.    The process was smooth enough, and the questions are not intrusive.  However, it gave me a ridiculously low limit of £2900.      I pay the bill in full each month, with the balance frequently getting to £6k before the direct debit date.  This was well within the old credit limit.

Now I have a card that is no longer suitable for my needs.

Marmaduke123

dunstonh said:

Received my invite yesterday to change over.    The process was smooth enough, and the questions are not intrusive.  However, it gave me a ridiculously low limit of £2900.      I pay the bill in full each month, with the balance frequently getting to £6k before the direct debit date.  This was well within the old credit limit.

Now I have a card that is no longer suitable for my needs.

Yes, I'm worried about this happening to me too. I have a couple of expensive holidays booked for next year, and will need my current limit if I am to pay for them on my credit card as I would prefer. For clarity, I would repay in full on the direct debit date.

WillPS

Marmaduke123 said:

dunstonh said:

Received my invite yesterday to change over.    The process was smooth enough, and the questions are not intrusive.  However, it gave me a ridiculously low limit of £2900.      I pay the bill in full each month, with the balance frequently getting to £6k before the direct debit date.  This was well within the old credit limit.

Now I have a card that is no longer suitable for my needs.

Yes, I'm worried about this happening to me too. I have a couple of expensive holidays booked for next year, and will need my current limit if I am to pay for them on my credit card as I would prefer. For clarity, I would repay in full on the direct debit date.

Presumably if they're booked already you can pay the balance in installments?

dunstonh

Marmaduke123 said:

dunstonh said:

Received my invite yesterday to change over.    The process was smooth enough, and the questions are not intrusive.  However, it gave me a ridiculously low limit of £2900.      I pay the bill in full each month, with the balance frequently getting to £6k before the direct debit date.  This was well within the old credit limit.

Now I have a card that is no longer suitable for my needs.

Yes, I'm worried about this happening to me too. I have a couple of expensive holidays booked for next year, and will need my current limit if I am to pay for them on my credit card as I would prefer. For clarity, I would repay in full on the direct debit date.

I also forgot to say that using the card could hurt your future credit worthiness.   One of the measures used by most lenders is credit card limit utilisation.  That is a good thing if you utilise under 25% of your credit limit every month.   It is less good under 50%, and if you get over 75% it starts being classed as a negative.

So, those with higher limits on the old card but moving to lower limits with the new one will see their utilisation go up, and their credit worthiness go down.