Credit cards Credit card customer satisfaction

How do you find the best credit card for customer service? Our exclusive survey shows what users think of their credit card provider.

Our research

Between September 2012 and February 2013 we surveyed 15,207 members of the Which? Connect online community about their credit card providers.

The table below shows which of the 24 credit card providers we were able to rate have the most - and least - satisfied customers.

There's a big difference between the best credit card provider and the worst; the top-rated credit card provider has a customer satisfaction score of 87%, while the worst performer gets only 52%.

Credit card satisfaction
ProviderKept up to date with new dealsDealing with queriesOnline account managementDay to day customer serviceReward SchemeCustomer satisfaction
John Lewis/ WaitroseVery goodVery goodVery goodExcellentExcellent87%
First DirectExcellentExcellentExcellentExcellentn/a84%
The Co-operative BankVery goodVery goodVery goodExcellentVery good82%
SagaSatisfactoryVery goodVery goodVery goodn/a82%
SmileVery goodVery goodexcellentexcellentSatisfactory79%
Post OfficeGoodSatisfactoryGoodVery goodn/a79%
British AirwaysVery goodn/aVery goodVery goodVery good78%
Marks and Spencer BankVery goodVery goodVery goodVery goodVery good76%
Nationwide BSVery goodGoodVery goodVery goodSatisfactory75%
Capital OneSatisfactoryGoodVery goodVery goodVery good73%
Amazon.co.ukVery goodGoodVery goodVery goodVery good71%
American Express (AMEX)Very goodVery goodVery goodVery goodVery good70%
Tesco BankGoodGoodVery goodVery goodVery good68%
SantanderVery goodSatisfactoryVery goodGoodExcellent67%
Sainsbury's BankSatisfactoryGoodGoodVery goodGood65%
Priority Clubn/an/an/an/an/a64%
Clydesdale Bank/Yorkshire BankSatisfactoryGoodn/aVery goodn/a64%
HSBCGoodGoodVery goodVery goodGood64%
Virgin MoneyVery goodSatisfactoryVery goodGoodn/a62%
NatWestSatisfactorySatisfactoryVery goodGoodSatisfactory57%
HalifaxSatisfactorySatisfactoryGoodGoodSatisfactory56%
Barclays/BarclaycardSatisfactorySatisfactoryGoodGoodSatisfactory54%
MBNASatisfactorySatisfactoryVery goodGoodGood54%
Bank of Scotland (BoS)SatisfactorySatisfactoryGoodGoodGood53%
Lloyds TSBSatisfactorySatisfactoryGoodGoodSatisfactory52%
Royal Bank of ScotlandSatisfactorySatisfactoryGoodGoodn/a52%
Asda MoneySatisfactorySatisfactorySatisfactorySatisfactorySatisfactory52%

Table notes

n/a = sample size too small
Average overall customer satisfaction score is 68%

Star ratings out of five show Which? members' levels of satisfaction with the ease of making an application, interest rate, customer service, accuracy of statements, the offers or discounts they get and how well they are kept informed about better deals. Overall customer satisfaction scores are worked out using a combination of overall satisfaction and how likely members are to recommend their lender to a friend. If two or more brands show the same overall score, they are ranked to the next decimal place. Sample sizes are shown below.

Sample sizes: John Lewis/Waitrose the partnership (1,580), First Direct (211), Co-operative Bank (675), Saga (138), Smile (151), Post Office (69), British Airways (34), Marks and Spencer (1,359), Nationwide (1009), Capital One (874), Amazon.co.uk (108), American Express (781), Tesco Bank (1,397), Santander (341), Sainsbury's Bank (245), Priority Club (30), Clydesdale/Yorkshire Bank (42), HSBC (574), Virgin Money (57), NatWest (787), Halifax (495), Barclaycard (1934), MBNA (690), Bank of Scotland (BoS) (104), Lloyds TSB (713), Royal Bank of Scotland (216), Asda Money (64) Total sample size 15,207 

More on this...

To find the best credit card for your needs, check the Which? Best rate credit cards.