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）
May 27, 2021 | 11:06 pm
#331
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,543
A lot of functions are either phone only, or much more intuitive on the phone versions. I think emergency contacts is phone only, but I can't state this with 100% confidence because it's possible that it's buried somewhere on the PC/Mac versions.
The "WeChat Team" contact is available on PC/Mac, and I've had good results fixing problems...apart from not being able to connect my BOC account (they want me to go into a BOC branch and ask them to swap my first and last names; that's not going to happen; thankfully Alipay isn't anal about this).
Following is a checklist of items if you want your WeChat account to be fully functional during your China trips:
-use a Chinese phone number that fulfills the real name registration requirement
-connect your WeChat account to one bank account; it doesn't matter if you actually use this bank account; you simply need it for WeChat pay to work at all
-get the health code miniprogram
-set 3 emergency contacts, and also use an easy (for you) password
The "WeChat Team" contact is available on PC/Mac, and I've had good results fixing problems...apart from not being able to connect my BOC account (they want me to go into a BOC branch and ask them to swap my first and last names; that's not going to happen; thankfully Alipay isn't anal about this).
Following is a checklist of items if you want your WeChat account to be fully functional during your China trips:
-use a Chinese phone number that fulfills the real name registration requirement
-connect your WeChat account to one bank account; it doesn't matter if you actually use this bank account; you simply need it for WeChat pay to work at all
-get the health code miniprogram
-set 3 emergency contacts, and also use an easy (for you) password
I can't find emergency contacts on the PC, but I did find them on her iPad and it let me set them. I can't set anything else in there from the iPad, though--everything else says to do it from the phone. And I still haven't gotten into the phone. There's also a link with Facebook option, likewise only settable on the phone.
We are US-based, we don't have Chinese phone numbers at all and there's no way we are going to be going over there until the quarantine requirement is dropped--that's probably going to be a while. For her WeChat is about talking with people in China, mostly her sisters.
My one prior attempt with the WeChat team produced no response at all. Do they not speak English? (She's not at all technical, this sort of thing is always my job.)
May 27, 2021 | 11:21 pm
#332
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,301
More poking around and I've learned a bit:
I can't find emergency contacts on the PC, but I did find them on her iPad and it let me set them. I can't set anything else in there from the iPad, though--everything else says to do it from the phone. And I still haven't gotten into the phone. There's also a link with Facebook option, likewise only settable on the phone.
We are US-based, we don't have Chinese phone numbers at all and there's no way we are going to be going over there until the quarantine requirement is dropped--that's probably going to be a while. For her WeChat is about talking with people in China, mostly her sisters.
My one prior attempt with the WeChat team produced no response at all. Do they not speak English? (She's not at all technical, this sort of thing is always my job.)
I can't find emergency contacts on the PC, but I did find them on her iPad and it let me set them. I can't set anything else in there from the iPad, though--everything else says to do it from the phone. And I still haven't gotten into the phone. There's also a link with Facebook option, likewise only settable on the phone.
We are US-based, we don't have Chinese phone numbers at all and there's no way we are going to be going over there until the quarantine requirement is dropped--that's probably going to be a while. For her WeChat is about talking with people in China, mostly her sisters.
My one prior attempt with the WeChat team produced no response at all. Do they not speak English? (She's not at all technical, this sort of thing is always my job.)
Chinese phone numbers won't really help you until you make your next trip, but WeChat Pay is kind of useful.
May 28, 2021 | 7:16 am
#333
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 21,004
What is the state of US credit card integration with WeChat Pay at the moment? I think this would be the only reason for me to consider signing up for WeChat. I still don't have it and I need a compelling reason to do so.
May 28, 2021 | 12:11 pm
#334
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,301
With respect to the "compelling reason", WeChat/Alipay spare you the need to carry any cash at all (or even your wallet).
May 28, 2021 | 5:22 pm
#335
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: HKG, BHX, MAN
Programs: Qatar Gold (OWS), Asiana Diamond (*G)
Posts: 1,519
May 28, 2021 | 8:29 pm
#336
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,397
May 28, 2021 | 10:02 pm
#337
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 21,004
May 28, 2021 | 10:35 pm
#338
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 22,108
May 29, 2021 | 5:45 am
#341
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: CA, FL, and China.
Programs: UA1K (no longer serviced!), Bonvoy P, Hyatt G
Posts: 704
AliPay has tourist pass which you can use a foreign credit card. I use my chase sapphire reserve.
Many merchants can directly charge your credit card through the tourist pass QR code of your credit card. In the unusual instances where it rejects the foreign CC, you can load money onto your tour pass debit card QR code for a 5% transaction fee. Even merchants that definitely cannot swipe any foreign CC in the literal sense can still usually charge your foreign CC through tourist pass. I use it at convenience stores, small localish restaurants, even in tier 2 or 3 cities. I check my chass statements and theres no fee or markup when they directly charge your tourist pass CC
I use aliPay far more often than WeChat pay.
If youre not living here full time then just use aliPay and cash. If youre living here full time then get a bank account at a local bank. China merchant bank took about 1 hour to open me an account with passport, employment contract, phone number with name verification.
HSBC was surprisingly awful to try to work with.
Many merchants can directly charge your credit card through the tourist pass QR code of your credit card. In the unusual instances where it rejects the foreign CC, you can load money onto your tour pass debit card QR code for a 5% transaction fee. Even merchants that definitely cannot swipe any foreign CC in the literal sense can still usually charge your foreign CC through tourist pass. I use it at convenience stores, small localish restaurants, even in tier 2 or 3 cities. I check my chass statements and theres no fee or markup when they directly charge your tourist pass CC
I use aliPay far more often than WeChat pay.
If youre not living here full time then just use aliPay and cash. If youre living here full time then get a bank account at a local bank. China merchant bank took about 1 hour to open me an account with passport, employment contract, phone number with name verification.
HSBC was surprisingly awful to try to work with.
May 29, 2021 | 6:10 am
#342
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,301
Before applying for any bank account (big or small bank), be sure come prepared with:
-passport
-visa/RP/WP
-phone number
-temporary residence permit (if you're staying at a hotel, they can print this out; otherwise, the local police station can if you show them a rental agreement)
-cash for initial deposit (Y1000 is probably enough unless you are aiming for a fancy account)
-ask the bank people to help you set up WeChat Pay and Alipay before you leave (make sure you're already registered to speed up the process)
Am I missing anything?
May 29, 2021 | 10:05 am
#343
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 22,108
[QUOTE=GloballyServiced;33287711]AliPay has tourist pass which you can use a foreign credit card.QUOTE]
That's still available? OK tourists better get that then.
That's still available? OK tourists better get that then.
May 29, 2021 | 10:32 am
#344
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,301
Why not get full fledged accounts instead? The cell phone and bank account drills are only a minor PITA if you have your ducks in order, and foreign cards are easy to add; you just can't use them at Lawson's. I would not pay a 5% transaction fee (did I get that right?) to be able to use foreign cards with a tourist pass.
May 29, 2021 | 6:54 pm
#345
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 21,004
AliPay has tourist pass which you can use a foreign credit card. I use my chase sapphire reserve.
Many merchants can directly charge your credit card through the tourist pass QR code of your credit card. In the unusual instances where it rejects the foreign CC, you can load money onto your tour pass debit card QR code for a 5% transaction fee. Even merchants that definitely cannot swipe any foreign CC in the literal sense can still usually charge your foreign CC through tourist pass. I use it at convenience stores, small localish restaurants, even in tier 2 or 3 cities. I check my chass statements and theres no fee or markup when they directly charge your tourist pass CC
I use aliPay far more often than WeChat pay.
If youre not living here full time then just use aliPay and cash. If youre living here full time then get a bank account at a local bank. China merchant bank took about 1 hour to open me an account with passport, employment contract, phone number with name verification.
HSBC was surprisingly awful to try to work with.
Many merchants can directly charge your credit card through the tourist pass QR code of your credit card. In the unusual instances where it rejects the foreign CC, you can load money onto your tour pass debit card QR code for a 5% transaction fee. Even merchants that definitely cannot swipe any foreign CC in the literal sense can still usually charge your foreign CC through tourist pass. I use it at convenience stores, small localish restaurants, even in tier 2 or 3 cities. I check my chass statements and theres no fee or markup when they directly charge your tourist pass CC
I use aliPay far more often than WeChat pay.
If youre not living here full time then just use aliPay and cash. If youre living here full time then get a bank account at a local bank. China merchant bank took about 1 hour to open me an account with passport, employment contract, phone number with name verification.
HSBC was surprisingly awful to try to work with.