Complaint Review: Headwind Media / CMI Exclusives / CMI Profiles

Today I reviewed my December 2009 Verizon phone bill online (I have auto billing), and saw a $20.00 charge for "Hold Billing Serv" from Headwind Media/CMI Exclusives. I had never authorized any monthly charges or services on my phone, and did not recognize the names. I called Verizon and they said I would have to contact the company to see what the charge was about, they couldn't tell me. They acted like I was on my own as far as getting the charge reversed. I'm so glad there is Ripoff Report, because I did a search and saw all the complaints for bogus charges exactly like mine. I took a chance and called the number (800-687-5401), got transferred to CMI Profiles...I told the rep I wanted the $20 charge refunded...the rep said several times that the charge had been authorized but I firmly but politely denied it every time...finally she said she would check with her supervisor about authorizing a refund. After a short wait, she came back and said I would be refunded the $20 and gave me a confirmation number and her first name when I asked for it. It's supposed to take 1-2 billing cycles for the refund to go through - fingers crossed that it does. This is a scary ripoff - it's crazy how these con artists are able to put the unauthorized charge on your phone bill...as others have said in their complaints, the phone companies must be in on this scam. Verizon told me that some companies bill under different names - acted like I must have authorized it somehow, but I'm sure they have seen this ripoff before, so they have to be in on it, ripping off their own customers. I'm sure some people never notice the bogus charge on their bill - I almost didn't. What protections do consumers have against this insidious type of fraud???