Jul 13, 2022, 8:15 am
Last edit by: moondog
The "FT People on WeChat" group
Our group chat is comprised of FT members and friends of FT members. We talk about pretty much anything except for politics (because Papa Bear has the ability to watch over us). The group has its own QR code, but it has a short shelf life (e.g. about 5 days), so I'm not including it here. The easiest way to join is to add me as a contact (moondogsh) and let me put you in the group.
Contacting Tencent Customer Support
If you want to get in touch with Tencent customer service (e.g. to update your passport number or change your name format so it aligns with your bank accounts), most web resources will advise you to simply message the "WeChat Team" contact. It is extremely difficult to get a human response when using this approach. Calling them also results in a bot experience.
However, the following drill works as of July 2022 (specific menu options can always change, of course; the key is getting yourself to step 5 below):
1. Dial 95716 (or +86 4009100100 from outside of China)
2. Select option 1 for personal accounts
3. Enter your connected phone number followed by #
3. Select option 2 for other questions
4. The bot will ask you to describe your issue using voice; just speak to it in English; it won't understand and will ask you to repeat 3-5 times before giving up
5. Now, the bot will give you ~8 menu options; through trial and error, I can state that option 7 is good for immediate transfer to a human (some of the others might work as well)
6. When the representative picks up, you definitely need to speak Chinese, but your request is presumably fairly easy to convey, and their responses are also pretty simple
7. They might want to move the conversation over to WeChat; this is okay because they will send you an invite to a special customer service queue, which is only ~60% automated
Our group chat is comprised of FT members and friends of FT members. We talk about pretty much anything except for politics (because Papa Bear has the ability to watch over us). The group has its own QR code, but it has a short shelf life (e.g. about 5 days), so I'm not including it here. The easiest way to join is to add me as a contact (moondogsh) and let me put you in the group.
Contacting Tencent Customer Support
If you want to get in touch with Tencent customer service (e.g. to update your passport number or change your name format so it aligns with your bank accounts), most web resources will advise you to simply message the "WeChat Team" contact. It is extremely difficult to get a human response when using this approach. Calling them also results in a bot experience.
However, the following drill works as of July 2022 (specific menu options can always change, of course; the key is getting yourself to step 5 below):
1. Dial 95716 (or +86 4009100100 from outside of China)
2. Select option 1 for personal accounts
3. Enter your connected phone number followed by #
3. Select option 2 for other questions
4. The bot will ask you to describe your issue using voice; just speak to it in English; it won't understand and will ask you to repeat 3-5 times before giving up
5. Now, the bot will give you ~8 menu options; through trial and error, I can state that option 7 is good for immediate transfer to a human (some of the others might work as well)
6. When the representative picks up, you definitely need to speak Chinese, but your request is presumably fairly easy to convey, and their responses are also pretty simple
7. They might want to move the conversation over to WeChat; this is okay because they will send you an invite to a special customer service queue, which is only ~60% automated
wechat（微信）
Sep 19, 2016 | 12:05 pm
#199
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Location Location (San Francisco)
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, airline free agent
Posts: 739
Would love to join but also make sure I use the group properly / respectfully. Will be in Beijing and Shanghai later this week and would love to meet up and/or have sounding boards for restaurants / bars. Is that kosher? Can I get new QR code if so?
Sep 19, 2016 | 5:13 pm
#200
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*SE MM, Marriott Titanium, National Executive
Posts: 1,596
Of course. Anything goes in the chat.
Sep 19, 2016 | 8:22 pm
#201
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 4,043
Open group, always welcome.
Sep 19, 2016 | 9:52 pm
#203
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,302
There are 3 desktop version of Wechat:
1. Web
2. PC
3. Mac
With #1, I believe you still need to scan a QR code in order to log in, though I haven't checked in a while because 2 and 3 are better (but, still FAR inferior to Android/IOs Wechat) they have a password login option.
To sign up, you do need to use a phone (or at least an Android emulator).
Sep 20, 2016 | 11:36 am
#204
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,543
There are 3 desktop version of Wechat:
1. Web
2. PC
3. Mac
With #1, I believe you still need to scan a QR code in order to log in, though I haven't checked in a while because 2 and 3 are better (but, still FAR inferior to Android/IOs Wechat) they have a password login option.
To sign up, you do need to use a phone (or at least an Android emulator).
1. Web
2. PC
3. Mac
With #1, I believe you still need to scan a QR code in order to log in, though I haven't checked in a while because 2 and 3 are better (but, still FAR inferior to Android/IOs Wechat) they have a password login option.
To sign up, you do need to use a phone (or at least an Android emulator).
Sep 20, 2016 | 5:48 pm
#205
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,302
Hmmmm. You might be facing a version/system issue, or need to update in order to unlock the "login via password" feature.
That having been said, QR scans are better than "login via password" because using the latter logs you out on your other devices (probably a programming oversight).
Not having phone service should be a non issue because if your computer can get online via wifi, your phone should also be able to.
However, if your problem is related to not being able to receive SMS verification on your phone (e.g. your Chinese sim doesn't work outside of China), the alternate verification methods are remarkably painful, to the extent that creating a new account --even with a Google voice number-- is the path of least resistance.
That having been said, QR scans are better than "login via password" because using the latter logs you out on your other devices (probably a programming oversight).
Not having phone service should be a non issue because if your computer can get online via wifi, your phone should also be able to.
However, if your problem is related to not being able to receive SMS verification on your phone (e.g. your Chinese sim doesn't work outside of China), the alternate verification methods are remarkably painful, to the extent that creating a new account --even with a Google voice number-- is the path of least resistance.
Sep 20, 2016 | 9:41 pm
#206
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,543
Hmmmm. You might be facing a version/system issue, or need to update in order to unlock the "login via password" feature.
That having been said, QR scans are better than "login via password" because using the latter logs you out on your other devices (probably a programming oversight).
That having been said, QR scans are better than "login via password" because using the latter logs you out on your other devices (probably a programming oversight).
Not having phone service should be a non issue because if your computer can get online via wifi, your phone should also be able to.
However, if your problem is related to not being able to receive SMS verification on your phone (e.g. your Chinese sim doesn't work outside of China), the alternate verification methods are remarkably painful, to the extent that creating a new account --even with a Google voice number-- is the path of least resistance.
Sep 25, 2016 | 6:49 am
#210
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,302
Our group is now just shy of 100 members; member #100 might receive a 红包 if we're in a good mood.
As a matter of warning, we discuss whatever topics come across our minds in the group (e.g. Maggies/Manhattan), and there is no moderation of any sort (we would banish really bad people, but all current members are pretty civilized).
As a matter of warning, we discuss whatever topics come across our minds in the group (e.g. Maggies/Manhattan), and there is no moderation of any sort (we would banish really bad people, but all current members are pretty civilized).