AliPay is a third-party payment platform that enables users to perform monetary transactions online. It serves as an escrow between the customer and the merchant. Through the AliPay app, payments can be made for goods and services. The app is widely used in China for payments, but foreign users have reservations on whether it works just as fine in other countries. The safety and reliability of using AliPay have raised lots of doubts by non- Chinese users. It thrives well in China, and it is expected that the same result will be replicated in other countries.
AliPay is a legit company founded by the Alibaba company that has established itself as a successful e-commerce company. Alibaba’s reputation has allowed foreign users to trust AliPay enough to use their services, but the users have met with major disappointments. On trustpilot.com, 92% of the reviews given by users have a one-star rating. This shows nothing short of disappointing experiences from foreign users. Is this 800 million-user payment platform worth using? Let’s explore.
Alipay Company information
| Official Website | Intl.alipay.com |
| Founded | 2004 by Alibaba Group |
| Owner | Jack Ma |
| Number of Employees | 251,462 (Alibaba) |
| Revenue | |
| Location | Zhifubao Building Tower B Huanglongshidai Plaza Hangzhou, 310099 China |
| Customer service Contact | 86-571-2688-8888 |
| Social Media | Facebook@Alipay |
What is Alipay?
AliPay is an electronic payment platform that enables its users to send and receive money. Payment for goods and services can also be made through the app. AliPay provides a perfect solution for the payment problem of foreigners who are visiting China. AliPay has successfully dethroned cash payments in China and made cardless and contactless payments thrive.
Users are made to add their credit and debit card details to the app. Multiple cards can be added to facilitate easier payment, especially for foreigners. To ensure that customers’ card information is safe, details are collected in an encrypted format. It makes it safer than direct card payment.
How Does AliPay Work?
Just by scanning through a QR code, payment is made in a matter of seconds. Payment can be made in two ways. It’s either the merchant scans through the customer’s QR code to receive payment or the Customer Scans through the merchant’s QR code to make payment.
Secure payment is made easier for both local and international users. During COVID ’19 prevalence, contactless payment like AliPay served as the best means of payment to avoid physical contact. AliPay gets the money from the attached card and transfers it to another AliPay user very securely.
Is AliPay Safe and Legit or a Scam?
AliPay is a Legit App founded by Alibaba Group. Each Financial regulatory body authorizes it in Europe, the USA, and other regions as a Payment Institution. Click here to see more about AliPay authorization. Security is the primary consideration for payment apps like this. Hence AliPay has developed measures to combat fraudulent activities. AliPay conforms to the PCI-Data Security Standard. This assures users of safe usage.
According to Jingsourcing.com, there was a case where a scammer replaced all the QR codes in the community with his own, which incurred a significant loss in a short time. However, chances of being scammed are extremely low if a user follows security. AliPay’s privacy policy ensures that customers’ information is secure and is only released to authorized bodies if necessities arise. As long as you download AliPay from its official site, you’re not likely to download a duplicate scam app.
Is AliPay Trustworthy and Reliable?
AliPay Overall web rating is not looking too good. The app rating on Google Play Store and Glassdoor.com shows a 3.4 and 3.2-star rating respectively. This shows that a lot of users are finding flaws while using the app. The most worrisome reviews are seen in trustpilot.com where 92% of customers rated their services as BAD. The majority of the complaints are from foreign users, living outside China.
When a buyer does not receive items ordered for or the item is different from the seller’s description, the buyer can get a refund. This is a sort of buyer protection to make buyers more comfortable using the platform. AliPay has 1 billion users, which indicates that lots of people have adopted this app for their payment. This mass number of users can only be achieved by providing satisfactory services. However, overall reviews show that their performance is short of being reliable.
AliPay Fees and Costs
AliPay currently has a zero transaction fee for small withdrawals below RMB 20,000. Anything about that attracts a 0.1% transaction fee. Merchants are charged 0.55% on each transaction. The low service fee is one of the competitive advantages that AliPay has over other payment systems.
AliPay makes money from the fee that is charged to users. They also make money from the interest charged on items purchased on credit. Some foreign customers testified on trustpilot.com that AliPay deducted their money without any good reason. This shows that there may be hidden charges on AliPay.
Does AliPay Have Good Customer Service?
AliPay’s customer care is functional but international users have complained about negligence. Reviews shown on trustpilot.com revealed that users are not satisfied with their customer service. Many of the prevalent complaints are from International users whose money was illegally deducted. They claimed not to get a response from customer support when reports of this shady activity are made to them.
Reviews on Alipay.pisssedconsumer.com indicate that the overall AliPay rating is 2.4, which shows that consumers are usually dissatisfied. Foreign customers reported that the customer care numbers are not going through.
Does AliPay have a refund policy/ buyer protection?
AliPay has a buyer protection system in place. intl.alipay.com shows that if buyers receive items that are different from what the seller described, they are protected. A full or partial refund will also be made to the customer whose items purchased online are not delivered.
Disputes between Customers and Merchants do not attract AliPay’s direct involvement. AliPay only compensates users whose App was used to perform unauthorized transactions by scammers.
More information on Customer Protection can be found here.
How to delete an AliPay account
You can delete your account permanently by following the following steps:
- Log in to your account using the email address attached to your account.
- You may also Log in using the password
- Go to “Settings”; on the Payment page
- Select “Delete Account.”
- Select ‘Yes’. I want to delete my account permanently.
Note: This action is irreversible; therefore, think it through carefully before you permanently delete your AliPay account.
The Pros and Cons of AliPay
Pros
- Has low transaction fees
- AliPay has brought payment solutions for foreigners in China
Cons
- Slightly confusing interphase
- Too many complaints by foreigners
AliPay Careers
Is AliPay a good company to work for?
Reviews from employees on indeed.com show a 4.2-star rating, based on Payment & benefits, Job securities, Management, and culture. There is, however, a slight dissatisfaction based on work-life balance.
Is it difficult to get a job at AliPay?
Reviews on Glassdoor.com show a positive working environment at AliPay, but the interview is difficult to pass.
Best AliPay Alternatives
If you are looking for alternatives to AliPay, here is a list:
- WeChat Pay
- Samsung Pay
- Apple Pay
- VisaPay Wave
- PayPal
- Square Wallet
Additional FAQ
How do I remove my credit card from Alipay?
Step 1. To add a new bank card to your Alipay account, press “Go to my Alipay” and then choose the “Manage your cards” link.
Step 2. Upon selecting “Manage your cards,” you will have access to the necessary options:
- Add a new bank card
- Remove one that has been linked
Is there a daily limit for Alipay?
Verified accounts have a limit of to up to 20K RMB per day. Unverified account holders have a daily limit of 2K RMB.
Can I use AliPay without a Chinese Account?
A prepaid card on Alipay lets foreigners top-up using international credit cards
How does Alipay Tour Pass work?
Step 1: Search and install Alipay from your App store. Here’s what it looks like in the App Store or Google Play.
- Step 2: Register an account with an email address or foreign phone number.
- Step 3: Search for Tour Pass in Alipay.
- Step 4: Complete your details + load your funds.
Is Alipay secure?
AliPay has reliable technology to keep all transactions safe for customers. AliPay does not have your original information. They only have the encrypted version of your information which makes it very secure.
Can an Alipay tour pass be used outside China?
AliPay has extended its services across other countries. Therefore it is now open to foreigners. Tourists only have to attach their international cards to Alipay. This has made payment easier for tourists.
Can I transfer funds from AliPay to a bank account?
AliPay is able to transfer funds to personal bank accounts. Some fees will be charged to perform this function.