KUKU recently updated a few articles and news briefs about using US (overseas) credit cards with Alipay:
- Can US credit card grocery bonus categories and dining credits be triggered in China? [Update: Alipay/Taobao purchases can trigger Chase Grocery bonus categories, CSR 5x]
- Alipay adds limits and usage-scope details for overseas credit cards
More and more readers, including the author, have found that their accounts can no longer use overseas credit cards. Alipay has recently tightened its risk controls, so here is the method for getting account restrictions removed as well. [Quick rant: they already charge a 3% fee, what more do they want...]
Account restriction
In the past, Alipay was pretty flexible about letting you use overseas credit cards. As long as the transaction was not too large, it would usually go through. Recently, however, Alipay has tightened risk controls. In addition to the new limits mentioned above, using an overseas card now seems to trigger a pop-up warning. For example, when recharging a mobile phone in the Alipay app, after entering the mm/yy and CVV, you may see a notice like this:
How to remove the restriction
At that point, you need to contact Alipay customer service to remove the restriction. This method came from reader ZY. I tested it myself, and it really is quite convenient. In the Alipay app, find “My Customer Service,” then type in a request for a live agent. A representative will start chatting with you right away. The first-line support agent may not understand foreign cards, so you can ask to be transferred to the team that handles foreign-card payments. After that, they will ask you to submit the relevant documents and will send a link to the email address you provide.
You need to submit the following materials:
- A photo of the front of the bank card used for the payment;
- A bank statement for that card (i.e. the Bank Statement);
- Proof of identity (ID card/passport/driver’s license, etc.)
Based on Alipay’s review of your recent transactions, your Alipay account activity and transactions have been identified as carrying a certain level of risk, so service on your account has been temporarily suspended. Your access to your Alipay account is currently subject to certain restrictions. Please click the link and provide the following documents: please leave visible only the last four digits of the card number and your name, and cover the rest. All documents must be color scans of the original documents or clear, complete digital photos. After Alipay staff receive them, they will review them as soon as possible.
The only inconvenience is that PDF files are not supported, so you need to take screenshots of your statement before sending it.
After submission, you should receive a reply within three business days. To be fair, Alipay customer service is much faster than WeChat’s. It is still unclear whether, after the restriction is removed, QR-code payments will just go through normally again (when the merchant scans my code). If so, then having CSR could be pretty useful.
Related articles
The author focuses quite a bit on maximizing US credit cards and US deals while in China. For more on Alipay and WeChat, you can also refer to KUKU’s earlier roundup articles: