Conflicting information on switching to prepaid plan?

[Rondel]

I currently have a basic phone (not a smartphone) on the Nationwide 450 Plan (month to month).  A friend gave me a Verizon iphone3.  I'm not going to pay $100+ to join the Share Everything 2 GB plan.  I would like to use that iphone on the Verizon prepaid plan.  When I stopped by a Verizon store a few days ago, the salesman said I could use the phone but I could NOT keep my existing phone number.  After looking at some of the posts in these discussions, it appears that I CAN switch to the prepaid plan with the gifted iphone and keep my phone number.

Can anyone confirm whether I can keep my phone number on the prepaid plan?  And if I can, where is the best place for me to switch plans, so I don't run into ill-informed or shady salespeople?  Thank you.

[Ann154]

An iPhone3? No such "animal" exists on the Verizon Wireless network. The first iPhone model compatible with the Verizon Wireless network was the iPhone 4.

[HappyHelper]

Verizon Wireless doesn't use an iPhone 3. Just the 4, 4s, 5, 5c and 5s. Only the 4 and 4s are supported on prepaid. You need to call customer care and have them disconnect using the code for prepaid migration. They'll then transfer you to telesales who will reactivate your number on a prepaid plan.

[Rondel]

Ooops.  It is an iphone 4.  But, that's not the question.  HappyHelper - What phone number do you refer to when you say "call customer care"?  I ask because the "customer service" number that I call says explicitly that prepaid plans cannot be done on the phone and must be done online.  Verizon sure doesn't make it easy to use their prepaid plan...

[HappyHelper · Accepted solution]

800 922 0204

You have to speak to a representative. They will disconnect your postpaid account under prepaid migration and then transfer you to telesales. This cannot be done online because you cannot disconnect a postpaid account online, nor can you reserve the number online.

[Rondel]

Thank you.  I'll give it a try.  Fingers crossed.