John Lewis Credit Card Cr4p
Discussion
A warning for those using a credit card issued by NewDay. They are somewhat hidden from view as they “support leading brands”, one being the John Lewis Partnership card.
My wife and I travelled to Whitehorse, Canada for the start of our 2 week drive around the Yukon (would recommend). Went to pay for pre booked hire car and my card was declined. Almost immediately I received a text telling me that if I wished to authorise the payment reply ‘Y’. Which I did. Payment again declined, text again received this time telling me my card was now blocked. The text told me that if I wished to authorise the payment I had to phone the number given. Which I did. Having successfully passed the automated security questions a recorded message told me their office was now closed and open Monday to Friday 9:00 to 18:00; I was then cut-off. We tried my wife’s card (just in case and with no other options) which is also JLP and, unsurprisingly, the exact same result. We were now stuck; 2 x blocked cards, no car, unable to get to the prepaid hotel, plus one night spent at the small (but cute) airport’s arrivals hall. Managed to get through to NewDay at 1:30 local time and after 50 minutes on the phone the cards were unblocked.
NewDay advise that they have no plans to offer a 24/7 telephone service. They state that as their security system worked correctly they carry no blame for our losses and are unwilling to tell us why our cards were blocked. Thank the gods that we did not arrive Friday.
Rick
My wife and I travelled to Whitehorse, Canada for the start of our 2 week drive around the Yukon (would recommend). Went to pay for pre booked hire car and my card was declined. Almost immediately I received a text telling me that if I wished to authorise the payment reply ‘Y’. Which I did. Payment again declined, text again received this time telling me my card was now blocked. The text told me that if I wished to authorise the payment I had to phone the number given. Which I did. Having successfully passed the automated security questions a recorded message told me their office was now closed and open Monday to Friday 9:00 to 18:00; I was then cut-off. We tried my wife’s card (just in case and with no other options) which is also JLP and, unsurprisingly, the exact same result. We were now stuck; 2 x blocked cards, no car, unable to get to the prepaid hotel, plus one night spent at the small (but cute) airport’s arrivals hall. Managed to get through to NewDay at 1:30 local time and after 50 minutes on the phone the cards were unblocked.
NewDay advise that they have no plans to offer a 24/7 telephone service. They state that as their security system worked correctly they carry no blame for our losses and are unwilling to tell us why our cards were blocked. Thank the gods that we did not arrive Friday.
Rick
I wouldn't have any card backed by Newday, when I looked into them they had terrible reviews and could't understand why JL would have anything to do with them, needless to say I no longer have a JL card plus the fact that their standards and customer support have nosedived in the last few years.
I use a JL card as my main spend card because SWMBO likes the vouchers.
They have done similar to the OP to us.
Having had to pay in half way through the month as I was nearing the limit on several occasions I asked to increase the limit, was declined. I asked if I had reached their maximum limit and was told no. Despite always paying in full every month and having a good credit rating they would not explain their decision.
Agree that traveling with only one card was asking for trouble.
They have done similar to the OP to us.
Having had to pay in half way through the month as I was nearing the limit on several occasions I asked to increase the limit, was declined. I asked if I had reached their maximum limit and was told no. Despite always paying in full every month and having a good credit rating they would not explain their decision.
Agree that traveling with only one card was asking for trouble.
chip* said:
Yep, should always have a back up card, especially when abroad i.e. both Visa and MasterCard so if one system is down/problems, you still have a back up.
My default card is Amex (just a free one) and that's certainly the card I'd want in North America. Customer service is exceptional.WyrleyD said:
I wouldn't have any card backed by Newday, when I looked into them they had terrible reviews and could't understand why JL would have anything to do with them.
My experience with JL since they switched to Newday has been no better. At one point I made a formal complaint to JL and Newday but it was just brushed aside.amongst the issues it was virtually impossible to use the card without it demanding a PIN for tiny transactions or insisting on sending text messages for any other spend. A right pita.
Also, what really seems crass, is they sent statements incredibly close to the payment date and say in bold letters "your payment of £27.52 is due" when you in fact owe £2,752 on the card.
I don't know how the system works but presumably Newday pay JL a slice of the action rather than JL paying Newday to operate the card, so JL aren't much bothered particularly in view of their recent financial squeeze.
Dixy said:
I use a JL card as my main spend card because SWMBO likes the vouchers.
They have done similar to the OP to us.
Having had to pay in half way through the month as I was nearing the limit on several occasions I asked to increase the limit, was declined. I asked if I had reached their maximum limit and was told no. Despite always paying in full every month and having a good credit rating they would not explain their decision.
Agree that traveling with only one card was asking for trouble.
I think the limit thing is common to many cards. They have done similar to the OP to us.
Having had to pay in half way through the month as I was nearing the limit on several occasions I asked to increase the limit, was declined. I asked if I had reached their maximum limit and was told no. Despite always paying in full every month and having a good credit rating they would not explain their decision.
Agree that traveling with only one card was asking for trouble.
We were booking a fairly expensive holiday last year. The limit on my Amex was high enough, but didn't leave much spare - and I use it as a daily card. I've had it for years, and always pay it off in full - I called them and asked if I could increase the limit. The answer was : No.
A couple of months later, we paid the balance of the holiday - which sure enough took me close to the limit, and I simply used a different card for daily stuff for that month.
And the following month, Amex increased my limit............ I assume the big spend close to the limit triggered it, but why they refused when I asked for it I have no idea.
davek_964 said:
and always pay it off in full - I called them and asked if I could increase the limit. The answer was : No.
Card providers want customers with a big limit which is NOT paid off each month in full.I use a credit card for daily spend and always pay in full but I happened to see an advert for a credit card on ITV4 and I think it was 98% APR
Dixy said:
I use a JL card as my main spend card because SWMBO likes the vouchers.
They have done similar to the OP to us.
Having had to pay in half way through the month as I was nearing the limit on several occasions I asked to increase the limit, was declined. I asked if I had reached their maximum limit and was told no. Despite always paying in full every month and having a good credit rating they would not explain their decision.
Agree that traveling with only one card was asking for trouble.
My wife had similar with her beloved M&S card. She pressed a bit harder on the credit limit and they asked how much she earned. She’s retired, but could make a case that she gets £30K/yr so she said that. They have done similar to the OP to us.
Having had to pay in half way through the month as I was nearing the limit on several occasions I asked to increase the limit, was declined. I asked if I had reached their maximum limit and was told no. Despite always paying in full every month and having a good credit rating they would not explain their decision.
Agree that traveling with only one card was asking for trouble.
Then they asked for proof which would be an faff to get together so she just sent them her state pension statement, about £11K/yr, and they put her limit up.
Why were the cards blocked? Fxxk knows. NewDay will not tell me. Had the card decades, a lot more credit than I ever use, a lot more credit than needed for the car rental, never made a late payment.
The only reason for posting on here was to alert those who use this card that since JLP changed to NewDay it is not the card it was previously. I had used the previous iteration of the card without problem in many countries. It was supported 24/7 as I have had cause to phone well outside of UK office hours. To promote a card that is not supported 24/7 is a joke.
Rick
The only reason for posting on here was to alert those who use this card that since JLP changed to NewDay it is not the card it was previously. I had used the previous iteration of the card without problem in many countries. It was supported 24/7 as I have had cause to phone well outside of UK office hours. To promote a card that is not supported 24/7 is a joke.
Rick
WyrleyD said:
I wouldn't have any card backed by Newday, when I looked into them they had terrible reviews and could't understand why JL would have anything to do with them, needless to say I no longer have a JL card plus the fact that their standards and customer support have nosedived in the last few years.
We used to use a JL credit card quite a lot, but now it only gets used for JL & Waitrose purchases.Jack ketch said:
Chris Peacock said:
Isn't it obvious?
NoGoogle AI answer said:
Credit cards are sometimes blocked by banks when used abroad as a security precaution against potential fraud. Banks may flag transactions made in unfamiliar locations as suspicious, particularly if the spending patterns differ from what is typically seen on the account. Notifying the bank in advance of travel can help prevent this, as it allows them to authorize the card for international use.
The cards being blocked is fairly standard practice if they don't know you'll be outside the UK but I'd certainly expect a 24 hour phone line to be available, so that was poor.Chris Peacock said:
The cards being blocked is fairly standard practice if they don't know you'll be outside the UK but I'd certainly expect a 24 hour phone line to be available, so that was poor.
They (JL) do say you don't need to tell them if you're going abroad. I told the bank about a large transaction once and they still blocked it - they said notifying them is what a fraudster might do,But of course "the algorithm" that determines so much these days will have decided something was wrong.
I wonder if calling the 24hr lost card line would have done anything? Although I doubt it.
Sheepshanks said:
My default card is Amex (just a free one) and that's certainly the card I'd want in North America. Customer service is exceptional.
I use my Amex for almost all day-to-day spending, but it is one of the few cards I have that charge fees for using abroad (something like 2.99% on foreign transactions IIRC) so despite it being 'American' I would use almost any other card before this one outside the UK.JagYouAre said:
I use my Amex for almost all day-to-day spending, but it is one of the few cards I have that charge fees for using abroad (something like 2.99% on foreign transactions IIRC) so despite it being 'American' I would use almost any other card before this one outside the UK.
I think all of the main-stream cards charge? I'm aware there are some others that don't, but never bothered with them. It's not a big deal in the great scheme of thing - £30 in £1000. How good is the exchange rates with the free cards?If doing a PAYG holiday in the US then it'd probably be worth some thought, although I do have an old (but still active) Schwab US account with a debit card, so I'd use that.
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