Answer five quick questions about your card, Alipay, WeChat Pay, backup, and timing. The checker gives you a setup path and what to test before you fly.
Wallet or verification message: follow the wallet's current support path; do not add another person's identity or bank details.
Linked-card or issuer message: confirm the exact card state with the wallet and issuing bank.
Merchant or checkout message: ask which payment method and scan direction that checkout accepts.
Connection or stale screen: restore a trusted connection and check the transaction history before retrying, so you do not pay twice.
Try only a supported alternative
Official provider material describes both customer-scans-merchant and cashier-scans-customer payment flows. If the merchant offers the other flow, it is reasonable to try it once, but it is not a guarantee. A QR image does not by itself prove whether a foreign-linked card, the merchant setup, or the transaction will be accepted.
Ask the cashier which flow or payment method is accepted at that checkout.
Use a second wallet only if it was already set up and independently funded.
Use a physical card where the merchant displays the relevant card-network logo.
Use RMB cash for the purchase when that is the clearest independent fallback.
Do not guess from the QR code
Do not label the code personal, merchant, safe, or unsupported from appearance alone. Do not split the amount or make repeated attempts unless the provider or merchant specifically tells you to do so. Keep the exact error wording for support, but remove card numbers, account identifiers, and other private data before sharing it.
The wallet, issuer, and merchant each control different parts of the transaction. This page cannot inspect the account or promise which retry will succeed.
Payment-app support, visa rules, and connectivity change. Verify time-sensitive items with official sources before departure.
Report an outdated or incorrect detail
We compare correction reports with the published sources before changing guidance. Do not include passport, payment, hotel, contact, or other sensitive details.
