OMG, what a pile of
I am so upset for you! Keep on top of Verizon, get your GF's mum to give permission on the account for you to speak with them.
Call loyalty and keep your composure-this is very important- keep working up the chain and asking to speak with supervisors. Figure out how you want to be compensated ($, perks on the plan etc.) Take names, employee ID, record time and details of calls. Make sure to ask them to confirm that calls are recorded. Make sure to point out that the "family account" is valuable and your family spends A LOT of money each month. Tell them you are furious (if you paid by credit card) that your credit card has been charged and they have failed to get the phone to you. Tell them you will call your credit card company and have the charges reversed if this is not solved very quickly. Tell them you want them to find the phone in a local store (if possible) and authorize you to pick it up in store instead.
Be persistent, write down all pertinent details, keep calm, don't yell, kill them with kindness but be firm. Don't back down and keep bugging them until you get someone with half a brain in their head who is willing to go out of their way to solve this ridiculous, costly, foolish error on their part.
Good luck
Just got so upset for you that I posted before reading the whole thread until I saw that you got the phine
congrats and enjoy it.