Phone must be started in the land where it was purchased

[Lev]

Dear Samsung!
Who came with this idea: "In order to make Samsung Pay working, the phone must be started in the land where it was purchased"??? ... and "forgot" to write it on the box of the phone, manual or the web-page????

I started my S23Ultra phone, that I bought in USA first time in Europe and now Samsung Pay does not work!

I can see a lot of frustrated customers like me in the forums with the same problem.

What shall I do with this phone if one of the main features does not work????

What is the chance that I will buy your phone once again?

iPhone, Pixel, Sony and all other phone manufactures do not have this problem.

It's really a shame!

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi @Lev  

My understanding is that some phone's have a Region Lock activated. 

Samsung haven't forgotten to point this out on the retail box. A phone purchased in a country is meant to be used in that country. 

This is to curb phone's being purchased in one region to then be imported into another to sell on. 

Making a 5 minute call using a local sim card in the region of origin removes this. 

However not all phone's have a region lock applied. 

I imported a Samsung Note²⁰ from Hong Kong into the UK, and no region lock was applied. 

However due to the software / CsC in the phone Samsung Pay / Wallet will not work in most instances. 

If you perform a forum search you should find existing threads with some further discussion on this subject within.  

The software / CsC restricts this feature.  

Samsung Pay / Wallet did not work on my imported Samsung Note²⁰ phone. 

However Google Pay / Wallet does. 

To add you also may find that your own Samsung Support Services wouldn't be able to support the phone warranty wise, as the phone was meant to be used in another country. 

I hope that helps. 

[Glenntech]

Different regions can have different features. Same as software
Some countries will impose certain restrictions on phone software for android. Apple iOS is not immune to this either
Look at the restrictions the European Union impose on manufacturers.

Banking apps generally are more security protected

I have come across this before importing phones. It's just always been this way for years
But like @BandOfBrothers has mentioned. You can use Google Wallet