John Lewis Partnership card and no income
John Lewis Partnership card and no income
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Discussion

5pen

Original Poster:

2,178 posts

235 months

Sunday 28th August 2022
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I use a John Lewis Partnership Credit Card and have done for 10+ years. They are switching their credit card partner from HSBC to NewDay (nope, me neither) and have invited me to reapply for a card. I guess this is a requirement on their part when such a switch is made, but is somewhat annoying for me as I am currently “between jobs” (and not looking for work) and have an income of precisely £0.

Does anyone have any insight on my chances of being accepted in these circumstances (with a useful credit limit)?

I assume my credit rating is good in that I’ve never missed any kind of payment and repaid my mortgage last year, but does no income preclude me from this kind of product regardless?

Cudd Wudd

1,118 posts

154 months

Sunday 28th August 2022
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I have an Amazon Mastercard with NewDay. That partnership is ending in November and they say they will then partner with Pulse.

It says: don’t worry, there’s no application and no credit check required because you are an existing customer.

I have to opt in by a set date and activate the card, otherwise my account gets closed.

Not sure if this helps you, but I’d assume you’d just transfer over should you decide to opt in.

LordHaveMurci

12,336 posts

198 months

Sunday 28th August 2022
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I thought JL said I didn’t have to do anything, it would switch over automatically, guess I got that wrong then!

I’m in thesame position as you OP so this could be fun!

NiceCupOfTea

25,586 posts

280 months

Sunday 28th August 2022
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Yeah I got that letter too and I am self employed so hoping I don't have to jump through any hoops.

I have no comparison to make, so perhaps someone can tell me if it's normal - it's supposedly a joint CC with my wife but seems more like it's in my name with an extra card for her. She can't do any online banking or anything as it all needs my permission...

Cudd Wudd

1,118 posts

154 months

Sunday 28th August 2022
quotequote all
I’m not with JL, but the process for me with NewDay is:

If you would like a Pulse card, you will need to opt in to receiving one by calling our automated phone line on 0333…by 6th November 2022 and entering your account number... If your account is not up to date or within your credit limit on this date, we will not send you a Pulse card and we may close your account.



Seems simple enough, assuming I remember to do it smile

5pen

Original Poster:

2,178 posts

235 months

Sunday 28th August 2022
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That’s interesting that a similar switch requires no new application? That’s what I was expecting really. I can only apply and see what happens, but it will be an mildly irritating if I can’t continue with it especially if I’m going to have similar difficulties with other providers.

QJumper

3,238 posts

55 months

Sunday 28th August 2022
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Plenty of people use credit cards to make purchases and pay off the balance as soon as the bill comes through, either for convenience or loyalty points. Additionally there are those with zero income who have plenty of money in savings to live on. I have periods of zero income but usually have a couple of years worth of living money put aside.

It's possible that with the OP having zero income, it means he's not collecting any benefits either, which would suggest he has at least the minimum threshold set aside in savings that prevents him from being able to claim.

Simpo Two

92,704 posts

294 months

Sunday 28th August 2022
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Lots of money in the bank?

5pen

Original Poster:

2,178 posts

235 months

Sunday 28th August 2022
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Savings. Also, as it’s used for household spending, my wife pays half from her income. There is never a balance on the card beyond the interest free period.

ben5575

7,428 posts

250 months

Sunday 28th August 2022
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Register with creditkarma.co.uk and/or clearscore.com (both free) and they'll give you both your credit report and credit score and tell you which cards (and loans etc) you're pre-approved for.

Virgin are currently doing a big push and giving very long (33month) 0% balance transfers. They're also chucking around stupid credit limits

Simpo Two

92,704 posts

294 months

Sunday 28th August 2022
quotequote all
ben5575 said:
Virgin are currently doing a big push and giving very long (33month) 0% balance transfers. They're also chucking around stupid credit limits
So people can borrow more just as interest rates go ballistic? How very thoughtful! But I suppose it means they can pay their electricity bill (just not the CC bills that follow it). Like UK plc really.

ben5575

7,428 posts

250 months

Sunday 28th August 2022
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Ha, this is true.

But Newday are typically expensive. And if OP is applying for a new card in any case, it might be worth applying for one with a cheaper rate. More so if the JL card has a balance on it which he can transfer to 0% for the best part of three years.

Simpo Two

92,704 posts

294 months

Monday 29th August 2022
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If you're living on savings (ie not waiting for a salary to arrive at month end to make ends meet) then the few weeks' gap before you pay a CC bill is irrelevant. Why not use a debit card until you have new income?

Mogul

3,066 posts

252 months

Monday 29th August 2022
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I don’t need credit but have a credit card just in case I come up across a car hire company or whatever that insists on a CC.

Saying that, I have booked a rental car on a debit card before and then played dumb when the counter staff asked me for a CC at check-in.

They may be told to ask for one but in that case they just huffed and let me take the car…

Sheepshanks

40,935 posts

148 months

Monday 29th August 2022
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5pen said:
I use a John Lewis Partnership Credit Card and have done for 10+ years. They are switching their credit card partner from HSBC to NewDay (nope, me neither) and have invited me to reapply for a card. I guess this is a requirement on their part when such a switch is made, but is somewhat annoying for me as I am currently “between jobs” (and not looking for work) and have an income of precisely £0.
Could be routine now, but I've never had to reapply in the past when card providers have changed.

Or maybe they've done a credit check on everyone and in your case case didn't like what they saw so have "invited you to reapply".

QJumper

3,238 posts

55 months

Monday 29th August 2022
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
If you're living on savings (ie not waiting for a salary to arrive at month end to make ends meet) then the few weeks' gap before you pay a CC bill is irrelevant. Why not use a debit card until you have new income?
I would imagine that it's for reward points on day to day spending, and purchase protection on more expensive items.

RammyMP

7,706 posts

182 months

Monday 29th August 2022
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
5pen said:
I use a John Lewis Partnership Credit Card and have done for 10+ years. They are switching their credit card partner from HSBC to NewDay (nope, me neither) and have invited me to reapply for a card. I guess this is a requirement on their part when such a switch is made, but is somewhat annoying for me as I am currently “between jobs” (and not looking for work) and have an income of precisely £0.
Could be routine now, but I've never had to reapply in the past when card providers have changed.

Or maybe they've done a credit check on everyone and in your case case didn't like what they saw so have "invited you to reapply".
I’ve had the letter also saying I need to apply for a new card when they change partners. I’m not going to bother as I don’t see why I should. I don’t use the card much at the moment anyway as I’m using my Chase debit card.

FredAstaire

2,425 posts

241 months

Monday 29th August 2022
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JL partnership car user here.

Almost every penny I spend is on the JL card, bar the odd cash transaction at the barbers etc. Its habit more than anything, but originally it was because of the cash back (JL vouchers back) system and because we do most of our groceries at Waitrose.

Did the reapplication a couple of weeks ago - they only ask about two questions - what your income is, and what your partners income is. Practically instantaneous approval, online card was ready in google-pay straight away.

RogerDodgerSuperTodger

6,202 posts

215 months

Tuesday 30th August 2022
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In case it hasn’t been mentioned before, NewDay are trimming back credit limits (severely) for quite a few people apparently.

PhilboSE

6,106 posts

255 months

Tuesday 30th August 2022
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RogerDodgerSuperTodger said:
In case it hasn’t been mentioned before, NewDay are trimming back credit limits (severely) for quite a few people apparently.
Interesting. I have a JL card, limit is £12k. Credit Karma tells me one of the few ways I can improve my rating is by getting my limit increased to £16k!

JL communications haven't been very clear. The website suggests that existing customers will be able to open a replacement card semi-automatically but the letter received this week just talks about shutting down the existing card and how to pay off final balances. I'm not aware of receiving any invitations to apply for a new card - maybe because I pay it off in full every month?!

As an aside, my pattern of running up quite big monthly credit card bills and paying off in full has shown a flaw in the Credit Karma algorithm - they think I run at a permanent but fluctuating credit balance on my cards, rather than recognising it is being paid off each month. Every once in a while their data collection coincides with the monthly payment and I get a "congratulations, you've paid off your credit card debt" email from them. You'd think that the data sharing and analysis would be a bit higher powered in the modern age.