Didi like grabcar. pay with alipay, touchngo or wechat

Signed up for a China Telecom physical SIM card, which costs RM25 and is valid for a month.

Just to add. You may walk in to any China Telecom branch , request for this, there will be a number of documentations for them to verify, for you to sign off, mostly like registering for a sim.

As already mentioned a couple of times, having a local China sim and phone number will be critical for arranging booking and appointments for a lot of tourist attractions , and most triple A attractions in large cities such as Beijing require pre-booking, and this local China number helps immensely.

That said, if you don't speak or understand Mandarin, then it will be immensely difficult for you even if your have a local China number.

If you can't speak the language , just prearrange with the many facilitators that you may find online, before you arrive in China A note of caution, you will need to sieve through and determine which is legit, reputable, reliable compared to those that are fraudulent. And be prepared to pay an add on premium for the facilitating service, but that's a given since you do not speak the language

International travel to China is a very new thing for China,

just 10 years ago, you won't be able to use Alipay even if your have a International Alipay account used to make purchase on Taobao I Malaysia,

just a year ago, there were many teething issues even with Alipay+ or Duitnow. Now it's getting much better by the day.

P.S. Although TnG have this Alipay+ arrangement for crossborder qrpay in China, I distinctly recall it doesn't work when you are in Malaysia (using TnG app to scan a Alipay code while physically in Malaysia), maybe this has changed. Correct me if Imy experience in January has changed now in September.

This post has been edited by when2meets2boy: Sep 27 2024, 01:27 AM

Touch and Go scan Alipay+ qrpay in China - 1% overseas transactions conversion fee - but you don't usually see this as it is incorporated into the exchange rate listed on the TnG app,

To see the exchange rate, for to the 'Scan' or 'Pay' features in the TnG app, then 'Swype up to pay abroad with Alipay+' , you will see the exchange rate for the day.

TnG use the "mid-market exchange rate" to set their daily exchange rate.

Now, TnG also have a "Visa Debit" card you can apply for which they state is 0% fees, but it's also just marketing smoke and mirrors, since 1% is already incorporated into the exchange rate. But this TnG Visa Debit card can be used to pay for Visa enabled purchases in China, or ATM withdrawals in China

But TnG only has an advantage if you reload cash into the TnG wallet.
If you reload TnG via credit card, there is an additional 1%. So it's 1%+1% if you reload TnG with credit card and then spend via Alipay+ in China

In comparison, Bank's credit card charges between 1.5-3% for every overseas transaction

e.g. Foreign charges converted by Maybank American Express credit card apply a conversion factor of 2.5% to the converted amount. A charge that is made in foreign currency other than U.S. Dollars when the conversion is done by American Express be converted into U.S. Dollars before being converted in your billing currency in the country visited - SUPER UNCOOL, LAYERS OF HIDDEN COSTS - but you can almost never use AMEX in China. AMEX is only good for local spend because if a 1% Cashback for every Ringgit

e.g. Maybank Master/Visa credit card charges a 1% currency conversion administrative fee on top of the prevailing exchange rate, and note that, unlike TnG, Maybank does not incorporate the currency conversion fee in the listed listed exchange rates.


So, if you're a bean counter who wishes to squeeze the best deal out of spending Ringgit paying Yuan (RMB) in China

(1) Those fees and charges are already known

(2) So you just have to compare the daily exchange rate used by either TnG, your bank, or

(3) Covert cash at your local money exchange, also referencing if their exchange rate is better or not, but bring cash to China and then do this https://www.boc.cn/en/custserv/202404/t2024...3_24845718.html , never tried, not sure about charges and rates. Bank of China have their own apps like E-CNY app, which they say can be used. They also mentioned you can bind your overseas bank card or your domestic bank card opened at BOC with your WeChat/Alipay account. You can pay via QR code or via the APP in China. I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE TOO MUCH FOR A SHORT CHINA STAY OVER.

(4) WeChat Pay charges a 3% transaction fee for purchases above RMB 200, smaller purchases below RMB 200, there are no transaction fees. There is no charge to link bank cards, make payments, top up your Balance or withdraw funds by the WeChat Pay MY Wallet.

(5) Similarly, if you managed to get money into Alipay (early adopters of Alipay in Malaysia may have a glitch where the Alipay account can receive funds directly from TnG - at least my account, it is possible). Alipay it also
charges a 3% transaction fee for purchases above RMB 200.

Also like to add,

TnG (via Alipay+ connect) & cash seems to be the only go to now what WeChat is gone

TnG & money in Alipay app will be a better option , using Alipay app as the backup. But getting money in Alipay would need you to have a China citizen friend or add on fees using indirect methods like WISE


Someone should try out the latest features for tourists provided for by the China banks ( example https://www.boc.cn/en/custserv/202404/t2024...3_24845718.html ) . I'll try it out during my next trip and report back

All in all, TnG (reloaded with cash) seems to be the cheapest value option for China travellers from Malaysia

I am exploring another option now

Cross-border DuitNow QR via Maybank MAE app
https://www.maybank2u.com.my/maybank2u/mala...ser-abroad.page?

www.maybank2u.com.my/maybank2u/malaysia/en/personal/services/digital_banking/mae-user-abroad.page?

In the Maybank MAE cross-border DuitNow QR product Terms and Conditions, I found one clause on fees and charges

Overseas Transactions

a. Scan & Pay can be used at participating overseas Merchants which the Acquirer collaborates with the respective countries to provide the Cross Border QR service. (In the case of China it is Alipay+)

b. For Scan & Pay transactions performed overseas, the amount will be converted from the foreign currency to Ringgit Malaysia (MYR) based on the prevailing exchange rate as determined by Maybank's partner plus a margin. Maybank's partner here refers to the payment platform that facilitates Scan & Pay transactions made between the customer and overseas merchants

So what is this margin?

Since Cross-border DuitNow QR by the DuitNow facility, DuitNow, I am presuming it is no charges, as stated in the FAQ on the DuitNow.my website https://www.duitnow.my/Cross-Border/index.html

DuitNow FAQ also states:
Daily transaction limit is up to RM50,000 and the limit is subject to RM3,000 per transaction.

This is very higher vs the other cross order payments. But I guess it might not necessary mean the limits apply to Scan & Pay, but instead are referring to DuitNow online banking transactions which I know set a daily limit of RM50,000

Also DuitNow.my FAQ also states:
The exchange rate will be quoted by your bank or eWallet and displayed to you before confirming the payment.

So, theoretically, if I use Maybank MAE, MYR to RMB is subject to Maybank's listed exchange rate on the day. But unsure if there is a additional "margin" mentioned in the MAE Scan & Pay Terms and Conditions

Will only know when I give it a try

If it works , will share .

This post has been edited by when2meets2boy: Sep 27 2024, 06:34 PM

Good to know we can sign up WeChat China,

But if you have successfully done this, can you also tell us if WeChat China's account WeChatPay, can we bind our Malaysian credit card or bank accounts to transfer fund into WeChat China wallet?

Thanks

P.S> if you have remaining Ringgit in your WeChat MY wallet, you have until Dec 2024 to transfer the money out, else it will be gone. According to WeChat MY. https://pay.wechat.com/en_my/cessation.html

This post has been edited by when2meets2boy: Sep 28 2024, 09:32 PM

Thanks for the info

"Need to scan their QR payment code then it will prompt to sign up for an account."

Does the phone used to scan the in China QR payment code need to be a local China phone number? or if our Malaysian phone number can work too?

Thanks, now to look for a China WeChat qrpay code to use this method. Many thanks

From my own experience, it is invaluable to have both Touch and Go (via Alipay+) and WeChat Pay (previously I used WeChat Pay MY) to cover 99.9% of scenarios in China

Touch and Go (via Alipay+) sometimes does not work with some China vendors' qrpay payment codes (because they aren't on the Alipay+ payment regime), and all of the time (in my experience), the WeChat Pay can work as the backup. Big retailers also accept VISA, but the charges and bank's exchange rates aren't that competitive (since it's a credit based service, there will be fees and fees).

During my last trip to China, DuitNow QR was announced to work in China, but did not. I will try out Maybank's DuitNow QR Scan & Pay as another payment option in the next trip

This post has been edited by when2meets2boy: Sep 30 2024, 12:30 AM

Confirmed that we can add and use International Credit Cards with WeChat Pay (or Weixin Pay) to use in China. A friend confirmed this on my behalf.

As for the WeChat MY wallet, confirmed it only means that the Malaysian Wallet service is closed. The main impact is we can't move funds (cash) into the WeChat to pay in China - but we can link our international credit cards to WeChat to use in China

Can refer to:
https://help.wechat.com/cgi-bin/micromsg-bi...nnel=helpcenter

Now, for bean counting

(1) Foreigners opening a WeChat Pay account do not need a local phone number to receive the verification code, during the configuration process. A password is necessary to ensure the security of the account. Once the process is complete, visitors can start using WeChat Pay with their foreign card.

(2) Transaction fees (Our WeChat pays business transactions in China) will be waived for small operations.

(3) BUT For transactions above RMB 200 (Our WeChat pays business transactions in China), a 3 percent transaction fee is charged. In the event of a refund, the fee will be reimbursed proportionally based on the amount.

(4) ** The exchange rate is calculated based on the rate of the card and the issuing bank. ** For bean counters, this is where the hidden cost lie. Our Credit Cards will charge fees for the transactions. Normally we don't see this as the credit card companies already lumped this in into the "exchange rate" displayed in the credit card statement.

To my knowledge, this is normally around 1%-2% for VISA, 2.5-3% for AMEX. AMEX will have another level of hidden costs when spending overseas. When spending in Malaysia, there is not such costs, but if we use AMEX to spend in other currencies overseas, the foreign currency needs to be converted into USD first, and after then from USD converted to MYR. So it is expected to be more expensive to spend AMEX (Malaysia) overseas.

(5) There are some limitations customers should know about when using a foreign card with WeChat Pay.
Currently, foreign cards are restricted to daily consumption transactions, and do not support special features like red packets (a kind of monetary gift used during holidays or special occasions in China) and direct transfers.

(6) There are also certain transaction limits when using foreign cards through WeChat Pay. The maximum amount for a single transaction is RMB 6,000, with a monthly cumulative limit of RMB 50,000 and an annual cumulative limit of 60,000.

(7) Alipay, WeChat Pay’s competitor, offers a similar international card service in terms of recommended usage scenarios, transaction fees, and exchange rate calculations.

However, WeChat Pay has expanded its support for international card types by adding JCB cards, while Alipay does not offer this option. Additionally, when it comes to transaction limits, Alipay allows a maximum of RMB 3,000 per single transaction, whereas WeChat Pay allows up to RMB 6,000 per transaction.



Summary, Touch and Go top up via MYR cash is still the cheapest option for value driven bean counters

But WeChat linked to credit cards will still match Touch and Go's (1% included in exchange rate) VS. your bank's VISA credit card (1-1.5% included exchange rate)

You just have to compare the listed exchange rate diligently (easier to see this on Touch and Go app, hard to find out credit card exchange rates, depending on bank).

There are also special cases, like the MAYBANK AMEX cards, which gives you 5X reward points for any overseas payment charges, which is easily exchangeable for purchases back in Malaysia, this 5X reward points cash back is about a fixed 1% cashback in terms of value. But how much exact value, it will depend on the listed exchange rate on the day.

This post has been edited by when2meets2boy: Oct 4 2024, 02:11 PM

WISE and GX, I presume works like debit cards equivalent to MAE card, BigPay card, Touch n Go Card , correct, all these cards are working on a VISA Debit system, and their marketing always touts cheaper than credit cards because its no fees, transaction costs, etc. but omit telling you (just like the credit cards) that their 1% is already built into their listed exchange rates .

Of course credit cards usually will have more hidden fees and costs , which adds up to more than the 1%

OF course GX too have to make disclaimers like this https://help.gxbank.my/cards/Card_Usage/Wil..._the_GX_Card%3F

GX too have fees built in. Just that it is probably waived as part of promotions. We just have to do out own due diligence of the latest fees and charges when the time comes to travel.
https://wise.com/my/blog/gxbank-debit-card

https://wise.com/my/blog/gxbank-debit-card#...bank-debit-card

This post has been edited by when2meets2boy: Oct 4 2024, 02:53 PM


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