Verizon Wireless Deceptive sales pitch to upgrade service and change plan, Internet
Have been a corporate customer of Verizon Wireless for well over 10 years using both cell phones and data products. Because of the length of time that I have been a customer, I was grand-fathered on my internet data plan (Wi-Fi). My plan was an unlimited data plan. I used several of their USB products before deciding on their MiFi 2200 (3G) which I purchased about a year ago.
About 2 months ago, I received a telephone call from a Verizon salesperson informing me that I was "eligible" to upgrade my data service to the new 4G product which was much faster than 3G. I told this person that I was on an unlimited data plan and asked him if upgrading to 4G would affect that plan. I must have asked that question 3 or 4 times and every time his answer was the same: NO.
He even said that the MiFi 4G LTE would be about $10 less per month than the MiFi 2200 that I had been using, AND that 4G LTE would cost me NOTHING because he was going to mail me a $50 mail-in rebate. I asked him if I could pick up the product at the nearest Verizon store, 3 minutes from my home, and he said no; he was going to send it overnight via FedEx.
I received and began using the product and a few days later started receiving text messages on my Verizon cell phone and e mail messages that I was "approaching my allowed data usage...". I immediately called Verizon and was informed that because I had upgraded my service to 4G, my unlimited data plan was null and void and tha I was now subject to a maximum of 5GB/month. I finally reached a supervisor who assure me that because I had called within 14 days, there would be no problem reinstating the original unlimited plan but that I would have to go back to the 3G service to which I agreed immediately. She said to giver about 5 working days as she had to get clearance from an "off-site" team but that there would be absolutely no problem, it was just "routine". Furthermore, she assured me that she would take care of any charges incurred under the 4G plan until the matter was settled. This conversation took place on 10/2/2011.
When I did not hear back, I called several times to enquire about the status of this matter and left her voice mails. One of her subordinates called once and left me a voice mail saying that the matter will be resolved shortly and not to worry; someone will get back very soon.
Today, it is 10/24 and I received a call from the same supervisor I had talked to on 10/2 informing me that the "higher ups" had denied my request to go back to my old plan... This despite assurances made by both the initial "salesperson" and the Verizon Supervisor that "everything would be OK...just routine clearance. These people engage in deceptive practices and need to be accountable for their actions.