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I actually find Alipay easier to use for payments and it is easier to set up. If you don't want to chat I would use it instead.
by adinobro 7y ago
I actually find Alipay easier to use for payments and it is easier to set up. If you don't want to chat I would use it instead.
- yoz-y 7y agoI have created a WeChat account years ago and I can not actually use it for payments. I don't know why it is but the wallet option never appears.
- zrobotics 7y agoWe hat payments used to require a Chinese bank account, so we're essentially inaccessible to foreigners. This is secondhand knowledge, I've never used it, but I have heard this has changed. Perhaps since the account was created while this restriction was in place, the option was never enabled?
- adinobro 7y agoThe wallet option only exists if you have a Chinese Wechat account (using a Chinese phone number).
- yorwba 7y agoIt also appears if you somehow end up with a positive balance (e.g by receiving a red packet). I haven't tested whether you can actually spend that balance without having linked a Chinese bank account, though.
- yoz-y 7y agoI have tested the red pockets but I couldn't actually receive them. It's been year back or so.
- kombucha11 7y agoYeah I could see the incoming red packet but i couldn't accept it, Eventually the transaction just voided itself. This was 6-8 months ago.
- markplindsay 7y agoCan you set up Alipay with a non-Chinese bank account or card? It works great for Chinese people and foreign residents of the PRC who have a bank account. However, my experience as a tourist was that it was impossible to link my US credit card using the PRC version of the app downloaded while in China.
- ubercow13 7y agoYes I tried recently and it seemed impossible without a bank account. You can link a foreign card but not actually use it for normal payments. You may be able to use it only on tabao or something. WeChat pay is not usable at all without a Chinese bank card.
- adinobro 7y agoI think you are right. I only used a foreign card for Taobao. I don't think it works for normal purchase... I'll try it tomorrow and see if it works.
- usaar333 7y agoAt least as if last Sep, no. I actually called customer service. Wechat pay is an option though; you just need to find a Chinese national that will send your account money.
- sreekanthr 7y agoYou cannot link foreign cards to Alipay account. Best way is to ask Chinese colleagues to transfer you Yuan and you pay them via cash. You can then use the wallet amount in shops.