For anyone reading this, do not rest assured that Verizon Wireless customer support will follow through with any sort of solution based on their responses here.
Apparently, I "wasn't using enough data" so the Verizon app recommended a lower-tier plan (i.e., a plan that would also make me ineligible for receiving the $450 BYOD rebate). Verizon's own recommendation came with ZERO indication or warning that I would consequently be forgoing the $450 rebate as a result, as such I switched to the recommended plan.
Naturally, customer support has told me I am at fault and there is nothing they are able to do as the terms and conditions of the rebate were presented at the time of purchase. What logical person would opt to forgo $450 in order to save $10/month by switching to lower plan? That makes zero sense. If this is not "bait and switch," then I do not know what is.
The fact that Verizon is unwilling to accept responsibility for the clear conflict of interest presented in how their in-app and marketing tactics interact with customers truly speaks volumes. If your product encourages consumers to perform an action that will adversely affect them financially without providing full disclosure, that is negligence and indicative of business practices worthy of serious concern.
I fully intend on forwarding this case with all related transcripts to the BBB; there is clearly a major discrepancy between Verizon Wireless business practices and requirements established by the BBB.
