I had planned on taking advantage of the Unlimited Data Loophole but... (VZW REP PLEASE READ)

Question

I had planned on taking advantage of the Unlimited Data Loophole by upgrading a phone that was originally on a tiered plan then activating the iPhone 5 on that plan I would then have taken the iPhone 5 and and then activated it on a number that is currently a 4G unlimited plan. I would  then reactivate the original iPhone 4S that was on tiered data plan.
I was advised by a VerizonWireless customer service rep over the phone a few months ago on how to do this process. I later called back after the iPhone 5 was released and verified that this process would work so I could keep my unlimited data plan while upgrading on the the Tiered Data Plan Number.
That was then and this is now...
Recently I had a failure of the 4G unlimited data handset and decided expedite the process as much as possible trying accomplish this process ASAP. I was told that the process mentioned above was phased out and one could only upgrade an unlimited plan to an iPhone 5 by paying full price for the handset and then activating the iPhone on the current unlimited data number. I told the rep on the phone at this time that I was advised that I could take advantage of the Data Loophole via the process mentioned above and it should have been annotated on the customer service record as a reference of the conversation. However was adamant that this process was phased out and was no longer possible. I told him that I felt he was wrong but I had no one else to got to. This is my second and largest problem... I can't find anyone that will stand up for what I have been told or that can fully commit to what they are saying.
So now I've been on a mission.
I needed to find some resource that stated that I could order the iPhone 5 on a Tiered Data Number, activate it and then move the iPhone 5 to the unlimited data plan number. Everywhere I looked I found that it appeared that the most recent conversation I had with the VZW rep was correct and if I wanted the iPhone 5 on my unlimited plan I would have to pay nearly $1000 (64GB version with Taxes and a case) for the opportunity to use the iPhone 5 in an unlimited manner.
Today I ponied up and a gave up the big bucks because I did the math and figured so long as I was not I was not giving up unlimited plan and I could keep the pricing I was able to get that plan at I would receive a return on additional costs in less than 2 years. Very shortly my plan will go from 4 billed numbers (3 handesets and one tablet) to 2 billed numbers.
This evening while researching another subject (Google Voice Mail on iPhone) I came across a VZW rep advising on how to do the exact process I wanted to do in beginning rather than paying the almost $1000.
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IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I READ THIS 4 DAYS AFTER BEING TOLD THAT IT ABSOLUTELY WAS NO LONGER TRUE...
  https://community.verizonwireless.com/message/888309#888309
  Re: Data loophole?
    Verizon Wireless Customer Support    Oct 18, 2012 4:22 AM   (in response to mitt02)                            
I bet you're excited to get your brand new iPhone 5. I'm jealous! I want one too.
If you ordered the phone on one of your lines that is on the tiered data you can activate it on that line and then switch it to your line with the unlimited data plan. This will allow you to keep the unlimited data plan because you are not upgrading and accepting a discount on the line with the unlimited data plan. The only way you would lose the unlimited data plan is by upgrading the line with the unlimited data plan and accepting a discount on the device.
Hope this answers your question.
John B
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport
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I am so confused and frustrated. I can I believe? Who in Verizon stands up for what they say? Who actually "knows" what works and what doesn't work?
Even the process I went through this morning was a debacle, The Store manager and his "Very Experienced Customer Representative"  told me that the full retail process would not allow me to keep my data plan. One of them was giddy after it worked and the other was disappointed. The good part about it is that I was told that I could cancel the order at no cost to me so long as it hasn't shipped.
So back to my 1st 2 questions
1) Will the original process work? (Activate on Tiered data plan handset and then move it to a set had the 4G unlimited so long as there is an upgrade available?
2) Who will put their JANE OR JOHN HANCOCK on the correct process and make sure that I am nit being taken advantage of?
I work for a very large corporation that has a very large contract with VZW with great discounts. They don't discount everything and I could have probably went to our VZW corporate rep but I want to deal with the same people the rest of my family talks to.
JOHN B? Can you advise me? I pay VZW big bucks and I don't complain too often and I am hoping that I can be treated as we as I treat mu customer and get a truth that the organization as a whole will stand behind.
Sorry that it is so long but If you only knew the number of conversations and the amount or reading and the outright bull I had to ingest to get this far.
Thanks
BR549
Jr Samples
PS...
P.S. Anyone have Google Voice Mail on the iPhone? I love the transrcibed  SMS text messages relating to the actual voice mail message and an email with .wav files that I can forward or respond via email if needed. If not I would have to give it up (pluse I have a GREAT secondary telephone number I would hate to give up.
Also can my National Unlimited plan set have the 4G hotspot feature added to it? Is it still 2GB for $20?
Thanks again
Jr

Answer 1

After further telephonic conversations with VZW it was again verified that what the rep that told me previously, that it was IMPOSSIBLE to use this UNLIMITED DATA loophole happened to be 100% WRONG/FALSE/LIES/MISUNDERSTOOD/STUPID/UNEDUCATED/MISREPRESENTED.
THE UNLIMITED DATA LOOPHOLE WORKS AT THIS TIME, SO LONG AS YOU MEET THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
[ (A) =  4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN ]
[ (B) =  TIERED DATA PLAN PLAN ]
You already have a family plan with at least 1 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN (A) or You have an individual account with a 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN (A). It makes a difference as to how you go about it but  the result is the same.
You have a TIERED DATA PLAN number that has an immediate upgrade available (B) or your account has a number with an immediate upgrade available that can be transferred that number with the TIERED DATA PLAN (B), you would transfer that upgrade to the TIERED DATA PLAN number to begin the process.
You will then purchase an upgrade iPhone 5 on the TIERED DATA PLAN account (B) AT THE DISCOUNTED RATE.
ONCE THE NEW UPGRADED iPHONE 5 ARRIVES AND HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE FORMERLY TIERED DATA PLAN NUMBER (B) IT MUST BE LEFT THERE FOR A 24 HOUR PERIOD. I have learned that this period is required but many others have been able to get away with less than 24 hours, however this is another VZW gotcha. YOU DO NOT WANT ANYMORE VZW GOTCHAs.
After the 24 hour period is over the original handset (or any other applicable handset for that account) (B) can be assigned BACK to the TIERED DATA PLAN number (B)  and the iPHONE 5 can then be moved to the 4G UNLIMITED PLAN number (A).
So long as you acquired the iPHONE  5 via a separate transaction, yours or someone else's TIERED DATA PLAN (B) account, you should have had no effect on your current 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN (A).
I found out that without a doubt, in spite of what others have said (AT THIS TIME), this will work.
Once you are successful, you will learn that however much time you had on your 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN (A) account you will still have. THIS IS TRUE EVEN IF YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO PAY FULL PRICE FOR YOUR iPHONE 5 AND ADD IT TO YOUR 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN (A). This is in spite of any previous ** you may have been advised of during conversations or correspondence with any of the uneducated phone or store customer service personnel).
AGAIN...  YOU WILL STILL BE UNDER A PLAN THAT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREVIOUS UPGRADE NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO WITH OR TO THE 4G UNLIMITED DATA handset.
If you have a 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN (A) and you have any wishes of adding the HOTSPOT feature, you must do this prior to the conversion (adding the iPHONE 5). Once the iPHONE 5 has been assigned, the selection of a HOTSPOT will either not be present in your "MYVERIZON" area or greyed out for the VZW personnel and no longer selectable. The removal of this option is another impetus by VERIZON to cancel your 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN and move to a TIERED DATA PLAN. If you cancel your HOTSPOT feature you will NEVER GET IT BACK unless you change plans.
The VZW telephonic Customer Service Personnel may even see an UNLIMITED HOTSPOT DATA PLAN for your current service while you may/will only see a 3G 2GB version in your MYVERIZON account area. They can select this UNLIMITED HOTSPOT FEATURE. YOU CAN NOT.
The UNLIMIITED HOTSPOT feature is $30 and the 2GB HOTSPOT FEATURE is $20 per month. Since I am cancelling the service on my XOOM tablet of 3GB for $35 per month which one do you think I took?
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THIS IS ALL TRUE AS OF TODAY FOR MY SITUATION, HOWEVER YMMV.
KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT IT ALL WORKS OUT AS VZW PROMISED. PLEASE CHECK BACK AS I WILL UPDATE THIS THREAD IF ALLOWED.
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HAS ANYONE NOTICED THAT THE ONLINE VZW Customer Service Personnel have flocked to this thread to help me out?
While in conversations or correspondence with VZW personnel DO NOT USE THE WORD "UPGRADE" in association with your 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN. INSTEAD, USE THE WORD "CONVERSION" WHEN TRYING THIS PROCESS. Otherwise you may cause their brains to jump track and you could lose your 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN.
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Thanks to those of you that have attempted to respond and inform in a helpful manner. I am not a VZW hater, I hate when any company attempts to bait and switch, fails to be clear or uses tactics to confuse it's customer base to have them subscribe to services or features that have short introductory periods or the company "reserves the right to change" and does so very quickly once they have acquired the numbers they have been looking for.
I am hoping that one day I can make the statement that deceptive sales practices are UNAMERICAN.
I WOULD LIKE TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES TO  BECOME A CORNERSTONE TO THAT STATEMENT.
HOWEVER I FEEL THAT AMERICA HAS A LONG WAYS TO GO!
THANK THE PEOPLE THAT TREAT YOU RIGHT!
Lastly, I was very lucky to make contact with an extremely knowledgeable, confident, competent and well spoken VZW Customer Service Person. After her extraordinary efforts in attempting to satisfy my issues and wishes I made the effort to thank her and made sure that she would be recognized among her peers. Before we terminated the call I asked to speak to her supervisor and advise of him my satisfaction. I advised that I work for VZW's competition and it is when I meet up with people like her that I work harder to keep my customers happy and keep my customers my customers.
When you have someone that makes the extra effort to fix your issue or finds a way to give you what you thought you bought please find a way to give them kudos or recognition beyond a simple online or telephone survey or a plain old "thanks".
It was not too many years ago that many businesses thought the intangible product, customer service, as being as important as all the other tangibles they sold. This is no longer true in most respects. Some businesses are coming around but very, very slowly.
WE AS CONSUMERS MUST DEMAND GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE or it will forever be shoddy. We must demand knowledge, effort, personnel we can understand, representatives of the company that have a stake in the organization and are not just some off shore or distant contractor that may serve customers from multiple companies in the same hour.
Still... make sure you say thank you for good service. Say thank you not only to the person that gave it to you but to the corporate infrastructure as a whole. Our businesses need to stop letting the stockholders decide how long a company survives in the marketplace. Too often companies decide keep their budgets down by slashing or limiting customer service as a first strike.
Yes, we all know that price rules in many cases, BUT THE WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY REQUIRES KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE to advise it's customers of their options and help them make it work like the commercials or advertisements show they would.
Even the stockholders fail to remember or choose to understand that ultimately it is the customer that signs their paychecks.
Jr.