WomenCertified® founder defends consumers’ right to rant following Twitter lawsuit

Hollywood FL (July 30, 2009) – Following reports that a Chicago real estate management company has sued former tenant Amanda Bonnen for “tweeting” about a mold complaint, consumer advocate Delia Passi has released a statement in support of the rights of consumers to speak freely and without recrimination.

Citing the First Amendment, Passi stated, “As consumers, we have the freedom to speak about our experiences and transactions, both good and bad. It is our right, and our nature, to talk about our buying experiences with one another in order to make better, more informed choices about how to spend our hard-earned money. Unfortunately, we can’t always give positive feedback because we don’t always have positive experiences.”

As the founder of WomenCertified, Passi is even willing to put her company’s voice and legal resources behind the effort to promote the rights and satisfaction of consumers.

She explained, “A growing number of businesses are learning how to communicate effectively with women, but this is not one of those companies. Instead of bullying her and trying to scare her into silence with their “sue first” attitude, Horizon Realty should have shown concern for her health and inconvenience and offered some willingness to address her issues. Their hostile attitude only raises the hackles of women everywhere, uniting us against callous companies that don’t care about our needs. WomenCertified is where women can go to find the right kind of companies to buy from; that’s why we want to offer our support to Ms. Bonnen in her legal defense, so that the “wrong” companies will know women mean business.”

Passi’s consumer focus also extends into consumer education, as she hosts a new Smart Shopper series on the Lifetime Network’s daily morning show, The Balancing Act.

She is available for comments and interviews on consumer rights and customer service standards.

“In a tough economy, WomenCertified is giving companies the edge and giving their customers a reason to come in – and come back. From big box retailers to small businesses, we are changing the game on how companies approach customer service and customer loyalty,” Passi stated.

About Delia Passi
As CEO of Medelia, Inc. and founder of WomenCertified®, Delia Passi is the nation’s leading expert and consultant on selling to women, leading her clients to increase satisfaction and market share among women. She is the former group publisher of Working Woman and Working Mother magazines, and she is the author of Winning the Toughest Customer: The Essential Guide to Selling to Women. As a noted women’s consumer advocate, she promotes higher standards of customer service and empowers women on how to be smarter, savvier shoppers.

About WomenCertified®
WomenCertified—the Seal women trust for better service—is a proven training and certification program rich with resources to help professionals across multiple industries increase sales among both men and women. Focusing on effective communication skills, customer appreciation and an enriched customer experience, WomenCertified has trained thousands of sales and service professionals in Fortune 500 companies and small businesses alike.