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 6, 2021 | 8:55 pm
#436
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,543
Sep 6, 2021 | 10:21 pm
#437
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Manhattan, Palm Beach Island, San Francisco, Boston, & Hong Kong
Programs: Lifetime United Global Services, Delta Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Ambassador, & Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,165
Whilst seemingly crazy to 'outsiders', maybe the phrase 'market realignment' can be used with an element of truth.
Technology stocks will regain their strength long term - maybe not the educational centres.
However, everything in China is planned with a very long term view.
Restrictions in educational pressure and costs? - Encourage people to have 2nd & 3rd children - at present put off by the costs?
Restricting teenagers to 1 hour gaming a day / week / weekend? How many western parents would love something like that?
Revisit all of this in a few years and see what 'decline' their has been in stock values........
Technology stocks will regain their strength long term - maybe not the educational centres.
However, everything in China is planned with a very long term view.
Restrictions in educational pressure and costs? - Encourage people to have 2nd & 3rd children - at present put off by the costs?
Restricting teenagers to 1 hour gaming a day / week / weekend? How many western parents would love something like that?
Revisit all of this in a few years and see what 'decline' their has been in stock values........
What happened to Japan? Terrible monetary policy? Sure. Rapidly aging population? Yes! What does that sound like to you?
In what aspect of technology is China globally competitive? Software? Outside of ByteDance, what software companies have seen considerable success in foreign markets where the Chinese protectionist government isnt propping them up? Chinas core tech advantage has always been in hardware (Huawei, Xiaomi, DJI, even Anker, etc). Its no coincidence that many of Chinas globally competitive firms are in hardware and not software.
For education, I dont really understand. Chinese education is superior to western education in many respects. However, there are many fundamental issues that limit the ability for an average Chinese worker to be hired by global firms. Very difficult to discuss this without painting a group with broad strokes.
Theres a reason the founders of New Oriental Education sent their children to the US for university.
Sep 8, 2022 | 8:36 am
#438
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,301
I learned something new (to me) today; what triggers tickles? It's actually very simple... double clicking profile photos. So, if you're curious about someone in any chat session and don't want to be perceived as a stalker, just click once.
Mar 22, 2023 | 1:20 am
#440
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 42
WeChat is indeed very useful, but internet censorship is annoying. Pro tip: WeChat groups are considered public places, so please be careful, your messages will be censored. I know this because my WeChat account has been banned. Since WeChat does not have human customer service, I am unable to withdraw my WeChat balance (my linked bank card has expired).
Mar 22, 2023 | 5:21 am
#441
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,301
WeChat is indeed very useful, but internet censorship is annoying. Pro tip: WeChat groups are considered public places, so please be careful, your messages will be censored. I know this because my WeChat account has been banned. Since WeChat does not have human customer service, I am unable to withdraw my WeChat balance (my linked bank card has expired).
Mar 28, 2023 | 10:25 am
#444
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 62
WeChat is indeed very useful, but internet censorship is annoying. Pro tip: WeChat groups are considered public places, so please be careful, your messages will be censored. I know this because my WeChat account has been banned. Since WeChat does not have human customer service, I am unable to withdraw my WeChat balance (my linked bank card has expired).
-the lowest is certain words not showing up in chat: you can say it, but others cannot see it...
-then is the ban in group chat
-then is the complete ban
Other than the last ban, you should still be able to contact custom service via the app itself, althought it does take a lot of effort to actually get a human...
Mar 28, 2023 | 8:09 pm
#445
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 42
there is different level of ban.
-the lowest is certain words not showing up in chat: you can say it, but others cannot see it...
-then is the ban in group chat
-then is the complete ban
Other than the last ban, you should still be able to contact custom service via the app itself, althought it does take a lot of effort to actually get a human...
-the lowest is certain words not showing up in chat: you can say it, but others cannot see it...
-then is the ban in group chat
-then is the complete ban
Other than the last ban, you should still be able to contact custom service via the app itself, althought it does take a lot of effort to actually get a human...
You're right, I was permanently completely banned. I eventually reached out to customer service by continuously PM the official WeChat/Tencent account on other social media platforms. They told me they couldn't do anything because I was reported and banned by the "superior department".
Mar 28, 2023 | 8:25 pm
#446
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,301
there is different level of ban.
-the lowest is certain words not showing up in chat: you can say it, but others cannot see it...
-then is the ban in group chat
-then is the complete ban
Other than the last ban, you should still be able to contact custom service via the app itself, althought it does take a lot of effort to actually get a human...
-the lowest is certain words not showing up in chat: you can say it, but others cannot see it...
-then is the ban in group chat
-then is the complete ban
Other than the last ban, you should still be able to contact custom service via the app itself, althought it does take a lot of effort to actually get a human...
Mar 28, 2023 | 9:28 pm
#447
Join Date: Aug 2021
Programs: UA 1MM
Posts: 406
You're right, I was permanently completely banned. I eventually reached out to customer service by continuously PM the official WeChat/Tencent account on other social media platforms. They told me they couldn't do anything because I was reported and banned by the "superior department".
Mar 28, 2023 | 9:40 pm
#448
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 42
Mar 28, 2023 | 10:58 pm
#449
Join Date: Aug 2021
Programs: UA 1MM
Posts: 406
Yeah, that would do it. Bloomberg did a great expos on top-level corruption in China back in the free-wheeling Hu/Wen days, and ever since then everything from them have been heavily censored. Although some of Bloomberg's hit pieces on China are actually dubious, like that 2018 spy chip story which multiple other outlets have found to not be credible.
Mar 28, 2023 | 11:10 pm
#450
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 42
Yeah, that would do it. Bloomberg did a great expos on top-level corruption in China back in the free-wheeling Hu/Wen days, and ever since then everything from them have been heavily censored. Although some of Bloomberg's hit pieces on China are actually dubious, like that 2018 spy chip story which multiple other outlets have found to not be credible.