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）
Feb 13, 2018 | 10:06 pm
#241
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,543
Any suggestions for extracting favorites from an iPad?
My wife has gone a bit nuts in saving things and has filled up most of the memory. Is there anything other than her forwarding me all the saved stuff? (I've got a PC with more TB than she has GB.)
My wife has gone a bit nuts in saving things and has filled up most of the memory. Is there anything other than her forwarding me all the saved stuff? (I've got a PC with more TB than she has GB.)
Mar 19, 2018 | 9:12 pm
#242
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: EUG BKK
Programs: Zero Status Nexus
Posts: 432
I recently downloaded WeChat on my phone and tried to add my CC with no luck. It says I have to download the China, Hong Kong or Macau version to accept USA credit cards. My question is, if I wait till I arrive in Hangzhou to download this, how will the WeChat verification work if I dont have a valid phone number in China? Thanks!
Jul 22, 2020 | 9:58 am
#244
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 11,616
Bumping this up as there are persistent rumors of upcoming Wechat block in US. Many local wechat users are looking into transition to telegram and whatsapp which in turn are blocked in china. I think skype messaging works in both - no idea how user friendly that thing is. I think we are gonna need VPN here in US 
This is a seriously messed up world that's going backwards.
This is a seriously messed up world that's going backwards.
Jul 23, 2020 | 12:46 am
#247
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,498
Bumping this up as there are persistent rumors of upcoming Wechat block in US. Many local wechat users are looking into transition to telegram and whatsapp which in turn are blocked in china. I think skype messaging works in both - no idea how user friendly that thing is. I think we are gonna need VPN here in US
This is a seriously messed up world that's going backwards.
This is a seriously messed up world that's going backwards.
Jul 23, 2020 | 11:27 am
#248
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 11,616
I haven't used Skype or MSN (if it still exists) in years because WeChat is categorically better than both. Sure, you need to remember not to post pictures of Pooh, but this isn't such a tough ask. Apart from the guys in the FT group, my mom is the only US based person I know who uses WeChat. We usually just chat, but the call quality is excellent. I use google hangouts (with my HK sims) when I want to make calls to US phone numbers. Since this is not a protected forum, I will refrain from going into detail about taboo topics, but sex, politics, and religion are obvious.
Jul 27, 2020 | 9:24 pm
#250
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,498
well here in US these days it's not about topics but fearmongering and politics in general.. visas/green cards for chinese students, "chinese army" affiliations and "espionage", consulate closure and it apparently very likely block of tiktok and wechat... not sure what means can be used here in US to block access - aside of sporting events viewing restrictions i never encountered such thing...
Jul 29, 2020 | 9:24 pm
#251
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 11,616
Either way india shutdown is not related to tencent censorship..
Jul 31, 2020 | 5:08 am
#252
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 21,005
I haven't used Skype or MSN (if it still exists) in years because WeChat is categorically better than both. Sure, you need to remember not to post pictures of Pooh, but this isn't such a tough ask. Apart from the guys in the FT group, my mom is the only US based person I know who uses WeChat. We usually just chat, but the call quality is excellent. I use google hangouts (with my HK sims) when I want to make calls to US phone numbers. Since this is not a protected forum, I will refrain from going into detail about taboo topics, but sex, politics, and religion are obvious.
Jul 31, 2020 | 5:09 am
#253
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 21,005
I don't know if it's linked to a Chinese phone number or not, but I think BBC and NYT reporters have reported of their accounts being shut down without explanation.
Jul 31, 2020 | 5:41 am
#255
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,498