Why isn't my unlocked Note20 eligible for Spectrum Mobile service?

[Tillylou]

I just purchased an unlocked Samsung Note 20 directly through Samsung with the intention of using Spectrum mobile as my carrier. After the phone arrived and I contacted Spectrum, they told me the phone's IMEI is showing up as ineligible for their network, even though the phone is a phone they sell and I purchased it unlocked. The Spectrum rep suggested I contact Samsung as she believed it may be something to do with Samsung Financing essentially "locking" the phone until it is paid off. This doesn't make any sense to me. I have talked to Samsung's e-commerce support line, the Samsung technical support line, and the Samsung Financing bank customer care line and none of the reps have been able to help me in the slightest. Nor do they know whom I should contact other than Spectrum (whom I started with!). Has this happened to anyone else? Or does anyone have a suggestion for who would be best to contact? At this point my next step is to return the phone and purchase another one through Spectrum. I would like to avoid that if at all possible. 

[BandOfBrothers]

Hello @Tillylou 

The advice i give is predominantly based from what happens in the UK so may differ from Region to Region.

A phone purchased directly from Samsung is unlocked to all networks but may have a Region Lock on it to stop grey importing.

"All current Samsung phones come with an active regional lock when first bought. Assuming it's not also locked to a specific network, using a SIM from the same regional origin as the phone for at least 5 minutes of total talktime will disable the regional lock and allow you to use a SIM from any other region from then on."

If you download phoneinfo app or CPU-Z from the Playstore what is the active CsC in the phone ?

Spectrum Mobile doesn't actually own its own cellular network. Instead, it uses Verizon Wireless's cell phone towers to power its mobile service..”

I'm aware from reading posts from American people that American Networks can be a bit tricky when coming to using unlocked phone's !

[Tillylou]

Thanks for the info, BandOfBrothers. I appreciate it! The active CSC code is showing up as XAA in the phoneinfo app. 

[BandOfBrothers]

@Tillylou 

From csc-in-samsung-galaxy-phones/ 

“ XAA – USA (unbranded/unlocked/default) ”

[Tillylou]

Thank you! Another Spectrum rep today is telling me that this happens with new Samsung phones - that the phones are too new for their IMEI numbers to register yet. I put in my Verizon SIM card and tried talking on the phone, per your response above, with my existing Verizon service, to see if would change the Spectrum eligibility so that I could switch to Spectrum. So far no change. But I will give it some time -- at least until my return window closes on the phone. Thank you, again. I appreciate all of your assistance!