I’m late in updating this information, but I just got some new info (as of yesterday) so I thought a full recap was due.

After I posted my review of Suze Orman’s new Approved Card, Briana from 20 and Engaged retweeted my post saying she was disappointed in Suze. Suze then called me an “idiot” on Twitter which caused a bit of a stir.

Several others blogged about both the Approved Card and Suze’s odd reaction.

• Does Suze Orman’s Prepaid Debit Card Make Sense for You?
• Suze Orman Loses Her Sh*t on Twitter
• Sorry, Suze Orman’s New Prepaid Debit Card Won’t Rescue Your Credit
• Reputation Management: How Suze Orman Jeopardized Hers
• Suze Orman, WTF?
• Young, Gullible, and Broke: Suze Orman’s Debit Card Fail
• Suze Orman’s Approved Prepaid Debit Card: Bad for Consumers
• Suze Orman vs the Personal Finance Blogosphere
• How to Make Your Own Prepaid Debit Card
• Suze Orman Prepaid Debit Approved Card: Denied
• Suze Orman’s Card is Not Approved by Me
• Suze Orman’s New Prepaid Card Makes Questionable Claims
• Suze Orman Shows True Colors With Her Approved Prepaid Debit Card

Then, the Willis Report ran a segment (with Ryan Mack) citing the “idiot” tweet. Suze went on to say she would talk with Ryan, but to my knowledge that never happened.

The big media outlets started waking up from their slumber and you finally saw a few honest reviews pop up.

Later on, after of twist of her arm, Suze apologized to me.

Suze Orman's Twitter Apology

In my opinion, she’s still not addressing the questions raised about her card. It’s as if she wants us all to just go away and give her a pass on this.

Suze Won’t Talk to Gerri Willis

I’ve heard through a source close to the matter that Gerri Willis has been repeatedly called and emailed with criticism from Suze Orman’s PR firm over the reports she’s done surrounding the issues with Orman’s new pre-paid credit card.

I’m no stranger to this approach as I was labeled the idiot and I’ve seen suspect comments on my original post. But all this denial without much backing makes me question, why not just go on a national platform and engage your critics?

If the card is really as great as Suze says it is, wouldn’t we all benefit from an explanation from her?

Apparently Gerri Willis asked this same question, but was denied. Willis also reached out to the parent company, Bankcorp for a comment on the card, which got back to the PR firm who hit Gerri again saying, “I guess you don’t want to hear the facts, huh.”

So, Willis took to Orman’s favorite communication medium, Twitter, to request an appearance on her show as well. Last I checked, there was only one quasi-response to Gerri.

Response from Suze about lack of Willis Report appearance.

Willis took to her show last night to explain why Orman has not appeared on the program to give her side of the story.

With so many consumer and finance reporters and bloggers now questioning the positives of the card, let alone the conflict of interest Orman now finds herself in – promoting a pre-paid credit card for which she’ll earn a percentage – it makes no sense that she wouldn’t want to set the record straight.

I’m hoping Suze changes her mind and once and for all, explains the full details behind the card.

Ultimately, I hope she pulls the card. I’ll tell her the same thing she told the Kardashians back in 2010, “pull it off the market and put your name or image to something that is great.”

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The Costa Concordia

We’ve all been glued to the news as the heartbreaking and bizarre story continues to unfold.

Vacationing via cruise ship has always seemed to be one of the safest modes of travel, but it’s clear from the news of the Costa Concordia that a catastrophe can strike anytime and anywhere.

The Christian Science Monitor reports that Carnival Cruise lines has announced that the passengers of the Costa Concordia will be provided with refunds, lodging, transportation home, and replacement value of possessions lost on board.

Not every company can necessarily afford to be so generous, however. If you are traveling sometime this year, you might want to consider how to protect yourself financially in case of vacation disaster:

1. Travel insurance through your credit card. If you purchase your travel using a credit card, you will often be offered some sort of travel insurance as a perk of using the card. Credit cards offer insurance on anything from rental car collision to trip cancellation to fatal travel accidents to lost luggage.

However, the insurance offered by credit cards should be considered a secondary form of travel insurance, since there are many rules, exclusions, and coverage holes in the average credit card travel insurance package. And the most common need for travel insurance—covering a cancellation due to illness or family emergency—is only covered by 15% of credit cards.

In addition, credit cards generally do not offer medical or evacuation coverage. For those traveling abroad or on a cruise, this is an important exclusion to note. If you were to fall ill or be injured outside of the United States, you could potentially be on the hook for your medical care and emergency flight back home.

If the passengers of the Costa Concordia were not being reimbursed by the company and only had their credit card travel insurance to rely on, they could be facing some hefty bills between them and getting home.

2. Cancellation insurance. This offers you a refund for the price of the trip should you be unable to take it. Generally, cancellation insurance costs 5%-7% of the price of the trip. For travelers taking a structured vacation—like a cruise or a tour—the company will often offer a cancellation waiver for about $40-$60.

The waiver is similar to cancellation insurance, but it has a number of restrictions, including a prohibition on canceling your trip at the last minute. Unfortunately, that is when most vacations need to be cancelled.

The news of the Costa Concordia has understandably made travelers with 2012 cruise plans skittish about their vacation. If you have not purchased cancellation insurance or a cancellation waiver, it is still possible to back out of your cruise, although it may cost you.

The typical time frame for canceling a cruise for a full refund is more than 75 days before the ship sails. After that point, you could lose up to 75% of your purchase price—or the entire purchase price if you cancel within two weeks of the sail date.

Adding 5%-7% to the price of your trip could help you rest easy that your vacation won’t be an expensive empty room on a cruise ship.

3. Personal effects coverage. This is one type of travel insurance that most vacationers probably don’t need. Often, your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance will cover the loss of your possessions, no matter where those possessions happen to be in the world.

However, if you’re traveling with a great deal of expensive photography equipment, sports gear, or your heirloom jewelry, it might be worth your while to purchase an endorsement to your existing homeowner’s policy to cover those items while you are traveling.

The endorsement will cost you less than a travel-specific personal effects insurance policy, and it will protect your valuables just as well.

4. Travel medical insurance. In many cases, your medical insurance will cover some or even all of any medical emergency you have while away from home. However, each policy is different, and it’s a good idea to go over your policy and figure out what is and is not covered.

For instance, you may be covered for an extended stay in a foreign hospital, but you might have to pay upfront and be reimbursed.

It’s generally a good idea to purchase travel medical insurance any time you are traveling abroad or are planning an active vacation.

The Bottom Line

The Costa Concordia tragedy has made it clear that thinking “It won’t happen to me!” can be risky. Before your next vacation, spend a little time thinking through your insurance options. The peace of mind is worth the money.

Image by Aah-Yeah

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