Not everyone has the security of a healthy bank account or an easily secured credit card, though it may seem a very commonplace accessory in one?s wallet. For some, what should be the simple task of creating a credit account is not an easy feat at all, as they can be hampered by poor credit or payment history, outstanding debt, or no credit history at all. But secured credit card options are never out of reach for anyone willing to put in some small effort, a few changes in their spending habits, and just a bit of time. You could even have a credit card within a few days of reading this paragraph!

Typically, the main problem of trying to obtain card secured credit is one?s credit history. A person?s credit history is the key factor all companies or institutions look to when deciding if a person is a credit risk. The credit report is a document displaying one?s financial history. An individual is scored on this document between good and bad history of payments, credit, loans, prior or current credit cards and the length of the credit history itself. The end tally is known as the FICO score. The higher the score the better the history, and the more likely a person will obtain a secured credit card. Because of its importance, knowing and understanding what information the credit report tells others about you is essential.

The first step in gaining secured card credit is to obtain your credit report and see where you stand. As of January 2004, all credit bureaus are required to give you one copy of your credit report for free each year. Any time you apply for credit of any kind, the lender will contact one of the three big credit bureaus to obtain a copy of your credit report. But keep in mind that the companies can charge you for doing so- always contact the company first either online or by phone and examine their policy. Doing so can save you some much needed cash.

When you have obtained your report and gone over your strengths and weaknesses and checked for mistakes (they do happen and it is important to get them corrected), figure out what you can do to better your history. This is the toughest part, because it means changing your spending habits, and even your lifestyle choices. But it is essential to maintaining a healthy financial history and securing future credit. See if you can consolidate your debts through consultation with your banking or credit institution; there are even free credit consultation firms that can assist you. Figure out a budget for yourself that only focuses on the essentials- food, transportation, clothing, etc. Figure out what is important, and what is unnecessary.

Now it is time to get your credit card. You can do it by mail, in person, over the phone, or online. Online can be fastest, and is equally safe and secure. Credit card companies can vary in their interest rates and incentives, so do your research and choose one with terms and conditions that match your requirements. Each company you apply with will run credit checks. The number of credit checks can negatively impact your history so don?t apply for too many cards at once.

Remember that these institutions want your business, and are willing to compete with each other for that business. Secured card credit is available to everyone. Take your time, don?t be intimidated, do your research and choose what is right for you.

Christopher M. Luck has an extensive background in dealing exclusively with the secured credit cards and is now offering his free professional credit card secrets to the public. If you are at all interested in Christopher’s professional advice, tips, or secrets, you can visit his finance blog.

When credit cards were first introduced, they were a pretty simple proposition: use your card for purchases, and be charged a single rate of interest on your unpaid balance.

Then came the rise of the ATM (cash machine), and credit card issuers realised they could lend money by allowing their cards to be used to withdraw cash on account, and could earn more this way by hiding away a higher interest rate for cash withdrawals in the credit agreement small print.

Next came the balance transfer offer, with either long term low rates or an introductory 0% deal, closely followed by introductory deals on purchases too. Not to forget the different interest rate often charged for overseas use.

All these different rates for different kinds of card use can easily become confusing, and survey after survey showed that many credit card users were unaware of how much their card use was actually costing them.

In many respects, this suited the card companies down to the ground as they could advertise eye-catching rates for purchases and balance transfers while quietly imposing more lucrative charges on other kinds of card use.

Amidst all the confusion though, some card issuers spotted a gap in the market – how about a simple, easily understood credit card with no offers or benefits, just a single low rate charged however the card was used? These cards became known as flat rate cards and their names usually reflected their transparency and ease of understanding, for example Barclaycard with their ‘Simplicity’ card, or the Co-op Bank’s Clear.

Whether you’re using one of these cards for spending, transferring a balance, or even withdrawing cash from an ATM, you’ll always be charged a single rate. And what’s more, most cards can offer a great low APR as the issuers aren’t having to fund expensive introductory deals or cashback schemes.

So is a flat rate credit card for you? The benefits are obvious – it’s easier to understand how much your card use is costing you, and you’ll also usually get a great rate.

If you have a large balance to transfer, it might be more sensible to go for a card with traditional 0% introductory offer or one that features a low rate fixed for the life of the transfer.

Likewise, if you use your card for purchases a lot but usually clear your balance every month then the interest rate doesn’t really matter to you, and you may prefer a card with a cashback or rewards scheme.

If however, like most of us, you use your card for purchases and cash withdrawals while carrying a balance from month to month, then a flat rate card could save you a lot of interest.

Michael D. Strauss is a seasoned writer on UK credit cards and other financial issues. You can compare balance transfer cards and read more on flat rate cards at Card Sense, where Michael is a contributor.

Reward credit cards come in a variety of forms. Specifically how points toward rewards are earned and the types of rewards that can be earned with a reward credit card varies from card to card.

The rewards offered by reward credit cards are generally related to a special area. For example, some reward credit cards allow cardholders to earn points when making purchases at gas station, supermarkets, or drugstores. The rewards earned are often related to this in some way, such as the cardholder may receive gift certificates to the same types of stores. Similarly, the reward credit card may be related to airline travel. Every time the cardholder makes purchases with a specific airline, he or she earns airline miles or free travel. In addition, these airline reward credit cards also generally offer the cardholder free companion tickets.

When it comes to choosing the best reward credit cards, the consumer needs to assess his or her lifestyle and determine which rewards are most attractive – and most profitable – for his or her needs. A reward credit card that provides specialized rewards, such as gift certificates to a specific restaurant, may not be useful to a cardholder that does not have a need for that reward.

Reward credit cards can provide credit cardholders with fantastic rewards for their purchases. At the same time, the consumer needs to be sure he or she is not actually paying for the reward in the form of finance charges and annual fees. Many reward credit cards assess an annual fee. If this annual fee costs more than it would cost to simply purchase the reward, it is certainly not worth paying for.

The same holds true when looking at the Annual Percentage Rate (APR). A cardholder who pays the balance of his or her credit card in full each month need not worry about the APR. One that intends to carry a balance from billing cycle to billing cycle, however, must consider the amount of money that will be spent in the form of finance charges. Once again, if the finance charges will be too great, the rewards of the credit card are not really rewards – they are items the cardholder is paying for.

Several reward credit cards have expiration dates. For those cardholders that will not be able to collect enough reward points before they expire, these reward credit cards may not be the best option. Similarly, some reward credit cards have limitations to how many points can be acquired each year. Cardholders need to consider these limitations in order to ensure they are receiving the greatest amount of rewards possible. If a cardholder spends $15,000 per year on a credit card, but a rewards credit card only rewards up to the first $10,000, that is $5,000 that is going unrewarded. The answer may be to select a different reward credit card, or to simply stop spending on this particular credit card once the limit has been reached. After all, every dollar spent on a credit card deserves to be rewarded.

A good place for consumers to look for the best reward credit cards is at the businesses they frequent. For example, a consumer that routinely purchases gas from a specific type of gas station should enquire with that business to learn if it has a rewards credit card. The same is true for a consumer that frequents certain restaurants, stores, and airlines. It is becoming increasingly commonplace for businesses to pair up with major credit cards to offer special reward cards.

For more tips and free information on reward credit cards, Robert Willard recommends you visit CreditCardAssist.com to learn more about the best reward credit cards currently available in the marketplace.

Credit management means different things for different people. For business owners, it is a process of implementing policies and practices to abide by in receiving payments from clients and customers. Part of effective business credit management is avoidance of extending credit terms to prospective ?bad debtors.?

For the rest of America, however, credit management is more personal ? it refers to the tactics and means by which their personal debts can be quickly and legally reduced. If you are one of the many Americans who badly need credit management to get back on the road to financial health, then these tips are for you.

Pay your loans and debts on time. Your credit record is not only affected by how much you pay for your loans and debts, but also how quickly and regularly you pay them. When you pay on time, you avoid exorbitant late fees (about $30 to $50 or more) and get high marks on your credit rating.

This is why it?s important to sit down and schedule your monthly bills. Design an easy timetable that enables you to manage your personal cash flow, so that you can afford to make payments on time and still have money left for other necessities.

Coordinate with your creditors. You would be surprised at how cooperative creditors can be if you just talked to them. Almost all of them have special debt management and restructuring plans that you can avail of when you are finding it difficult to pay your obligations on time. Don?t run away from your creditors, or you?ll end up being in bigger trouble.

Finally, pay off credit cards. Your credit card may seem harmless enough, but it can be the most expensive form of credit if you do not manage it properly. Make paying your credit card your priority ? the moment you get your paycheck, set aside the amount you need to pay your bill. Pay it in full whenever possible, so that you do not incur interest charges that can accumulate in no time.

Credit Management provides detailed information on Credit Management, Credit Debt Management Counseling, Credit Card Debt Management, Credit Management Services and more. Credit Management is affiliated with Credit Counseling Services.

The American Express Platinum Business Credit Card is appropriate for business owners who have good credit and prefer to use one card to manage all business-related expenses and carry a monthly balance. The interest rate is based on the cardholder?s credit history and can range from 2.99% to 9.99% plus prime rate and provides an option for paying business expenses over time instead of all at once. The APR on cash advances is 22.99% variable, based on prime rate.

The card has no annual fee and has a 0% introductory interest for the first twelve months on purchases with a fixed rate of 4.99% for the life of any balance transfer that is made at the time of the application. There is no balance transfer fee associated with this card, but future balance transfers may incur a fee. Cash advances will be assessed a 3% Express Cash transaction fee with a minimum charge of $5.

There is also a Membership Reward Options program attached to this card at no additional cost. It gives cardholders the opportunity to redeem any points they have accumulated for various benefits and services. There is no yearly limit on how many points you can accumulate and no expiration date for redeeming accumulated points. Points are earned at the rate of one point per dollar spent and can be redeemed for merchandise, entertainment, and benefits that are related to travel.

Other benefits that are related to American Express Platinum Business include the following:

?Online account access

?Protection of purchases

?Extended warranty for purchases

?Travel accident insurance up to $100,000

?Insurance for lost luggage

?Insurance for car rental

?Emergency replacement of cards

?Business checkbooks at no additional charge

?American Express Connections Calling Card at no charge including ten minutes free monthly for a year and eighteen cents a minute after that

?Access OPEN, The Small Business Network services

?Discounts at FedEx, Kinko?s, Staples and other merchants participating in the offered programs

Business owners who have good credit will find the benefits quite attractive, but the interest rates based on credit history may not be attractive to others. It?s important to keep that in mind when deciding whether this card will serve your business needs.

For more information or to obtain the American Express Platinum Business application, Joshua Shapiro recommends Find Credit Cards.

Credit card debt is a major social problem in some Western countries. To rid yourself of credit card debt, it is best to recognize the problem as both a social and individual problem.

If you are overburdened with credit card debt, or are in danger of becoming so, it is very easy to see it purely as an individual problem, one from which you may be suffering both physically and mentally. Worry and stress can be silent marauders into your physical and mental well being. Debt can undoubtedly cause both worry and stress, not just to the debtor, but their immediate families too.

Why Should You Care About The Social Causes of Credit Card Debt?

If you wish to overcome your credit card debt problem, you will benefit from removing some of the social influences. They are a major influence on the way you react, think and behave. Remove the social influences, and you take a big stride in your journey to eliminate your debt.

I do not, of course, mean remove the root causes of credit card debt. You cannot do that. What I am referring to is to prevent the social influences from penetrating you and taking over your life. As an individual, you have the right to resist social influences where they are harmful. The liberal, unfettered use of credit cards is an influence you will benefit from resisting.

Just by being fully aware of the social influences, you have made an important step. You will more likely be on your guard, and by asserting your individuality, you are more likely to overcome or prevent the credit card debt problem.

What Are The Social Causes Of Credit Card Debt?

You could spend years analyzing the credit card debt problem. Here are just a few of the influences at work in the society around you:

1. Credit card interest rates are high, therefore the profits can be high. Banks and other credit card issuers are after their slice of that big money, including from you. They can therefore justify big marketing budgets to get your money. I deliberately do not say ?get your business?. You will resist better if you think ?they are after my money.?

2. It is very easy to get credit cards, multiple credit cards in fact. Issuers of credit cards make it easy for you, if you have had no debt problems in the past. If they seem to take it lightly, it is understandable that their customers do too. But remember, they take the risk factors into account when setting interest rates. That?s why they are so high.

3. Your friends, neighbours and work colleagues will probably all have multiple credit cards, talk about them and flash them around from time to time. That can all influence your own attitude to credit card debt. 4. Depending on what country you are in, yours may be a ?have now, pay later? society. Immediate gratification can take precedence over common sense. If everyone else is doing it, it surely must be right? Wrong. Especially if the interest rates are too high.

5. You see other people buy new furniture, go on exotic vacations, or go out to expensive restaurants all the time. Even if you never know if they are doing so on credit card, you may want the same. But you do not have the immediate cash, so what do you do? Jump on the credit card train? That is what your society may be pushing you towards.

How To Resist the Social Pressures To Succumb To Credit Card Debt

Due to the overwhelming pressures of the credit card society, it can be quite a difficult task, initially, to change your own attitudes. But by asserting your individuality, you can steadily eliminate the social conditioning. It is really a matter of how you think in certain situations. You are in charge of the way you think, so all you need to do is what is natural. Not what everyone else seems to be doing around you, but what is natural to you as an individual. Think to protect yourself, assert yourself, and to look after your financial well being.

Here are a few ideas to help you:

1. Whatever type of loan you may apply for, you are after just one product, money. Different types of loans are marketed as separate products, in different packages, but to you, they should all be one: money. The money, once you have it, is all the same quality. A dollar is a dollar, a pound is a pound, a euro is a euro. Having engrained that upon yourself, knowing you are just after this single product, you need only look at price. Credit card debt is very, very expensive. The interest takes money from you, and reduces your assets. If you need a loan, you want the lowest possible interest rate, one that does not unnecessarily leech your assets.

2. A credit card should only be used as a convenience to pay if you have no cash on you, knowing that you can pay off the balance before interest charges kick in. Many cards have an interest free period. Never use credit cards as a loan beyond that free period. Others do, but you have no need to. You can eliminate that idea altogether. You are creating a new habit that will enhance your financial situation, and resisting an old common habit that would ultimately damage your finances.

3. Plan all your borrowing. Sit down and write down what you absolutely must buy over the next year, and add what you would like to buy. Total the cost. Write down a budget for each month, making sure you have listed all your regular expenses that are fixed and unavoidable, and those over which there is some flexibility. Compare that total with your income. If you have a surplus, then you can think about those extra purchases you had in mind. If not, don?t think any more about them. You cannot afford them, and cannot afford to borrow.

If you have a planned surplus, then maybe you can get those things you wanted. If you can afford all of them, and there are quite a few items on your list, then forget about getting a loan. Be patient, resist the have now pay later syndrome. You can save interest and buy a bonus item with that later if you really must. You are in a great position to pay cash. Prioritize the things you want to buy, and note their cost, and then work out a plan by which you buy one item at a time spread throughout the year. Why pay the banks credit, when you can pay cash? You will save not just the interest but maybe get cash discounts. Cash gives you control. With credit you are subservient.

If, on the other hand, there are just one or two more expensive items you want to buy, it is time to compare options and test your resolve. If you save your surplus each month, consider how long it will take to have enough for item 1 and maybe item 2. Are they really urgent? Probably not. Maybe you can save for one after 4 months and 2 after 9 months. That way you are getting into the habit of saving, and living off cash. Cash is king. Your finances will start to look good over time, and you?ll start to feel proud of yourself. You will feel in control.

Remember too that by saving, if an emergency comes up, you may have the cash at hand instead of reaching for that expensive credit card.

You really cannot wait and save? That is a pity, but now check out all the loan sources suitable for your intended purchases. Get the best plan, the best interest rates, and apply, with the intention of using that loan just for what it is intended, and to pay it off within the time scale of the spending plan. In the example one year. Stick to that discipline, and your credit is still under your control. And, you have avoided reliance on expensive credit cards.

4. Remind yourself every day that you are only going to use your credit card when you have no cash on you, as a convenience, and you will repay it before interest starts to accrue.

5. Also remind yourself every day that sometimes it is good, or even necessary, to be that bit different, and to resist social pressures. Imagine all the credit card lemmings heading towards the precipice, while you relax in your counting house, counting out your money. Real money; your assets. Anyway, it?s great sometimes to be different, it really does make you feel good about yourself.

6. Never, ever feel you have to buy something just because a neighbour or friend has been boasting about theirs. Envy and jealousy are viruses that minimize your individuality, and can, in this case, damage your finances.

Resisting the pressures of the credit card society will be a lot easier once you have set your mind to it, and started to feel the benefits. Enjoy the process, and you will be a cash convert for the rest of your affluent life.

Roy Thomsitt is the owner and part author of http://www.eliminate-credit-card-debt-now.com

Credit is one of the hardest things for many young (and older) people to deal with. Unfortunately subjects like using credit wisely and applying for loans are not offered in schools; these lessons are generally learned in the school of hard knocks. Learning by making mistakes may be effective, but it can be damaging to your credit score and your finances as well.

A better approach is to learn from the mistakes of others and avoid making them yourself. Fortunately, there is a wealth of information available on what to do – and not do – when it comes to credit and credit cards.

One of the biggest, and most commonly seen, mistakes made by new credit card holders is to use that easy money as an excuse to buy lots of unnecessary luxury items. Just because you can charge that four star dinner or five star hotel room does not mean you should. Buying a leather sofa that you cannot afford is a poor use of that new credit card, and it will catch up with you in the end.

The rule of thumb with credit cards is this: if you cannot afford to pay cash for it do not buy it. Of course there are exceptions to this rule, but they should be few and far between. A prime example of an exception to the rule is car repairs. If you need to have your car repaired in order to get to work and keep earning money, that would be a wise use of credit, even if you cannot afford to pay the bill in full at the end of the month. Even in such an emergency, however, it is important to squeeze as much extra money as possible from each and every paycheck until the bill is paid in full.

Other than emergency situations, credit card holders should strive to pay their bills in full every month. If you find yourself unable to do this consistently, it may be time to look at your spending and search for ways to cut back.

Using credit wisely may not be an easy goal, but it is certainly an important one. The sooner you learn to use credit wisely, the better off your finances will be.

Find out more at http://sosdebt.org/

Take a good look at your credit card, what do you see? The name or logo of the issuing financial institution, your name (embossed on the card, thank you), the date when you first became a member (normally, they just indicate the year), when the card will expire, the card number (of course!), the trademarks of either Visa or MasterCard (if your card doesn?t have this, it?s okay, your card is still valid ? just not part of their network of banks), the magnetic strip (take care not to scratch that part), a small area where you affix your signature, and ? what?s that? An extra set of numbers at the back of your card? What are these for?

If you?re wondering what those extra numbers represent and what their purpose is, then it?s time you found out. Those three digits are your security numbers. In this day and age where face-less transactions are accepted, these numbers protect you from falling prey to unscrupulous individuals (who, for one reason or another, know your card number by heart). Without these numbers, any online, television, or telephone purchases will not be verified and these will not be charged to your account.

Security numbers are randomly generated and are added to cards, from the exclusive ?don?t leave home without it? American Express to the largely popular Visa and MasterCard brands. As previously stated, these numbers prevent thieves from using your credit card with merchants who are unable to personally check if the signatures on the card (and on the receipt) are alike. It is a security mechanism that has been developed primarily to reduce a growing number of internet frauds.

How do security numbers work? For non-personal transactions, particularly online purchases, the user is requested to plug in the last digits seen at the back of your card. Unless the thief has your credit card, he will have to guess what these three numbers are. Once the digits are encoded, the system verifies this with the card issuer. The card issuer will then send an automated electronic response, to inform the merchant if (1) you have enough credit in your account for your intended purchase; and (2) if the information that was sent matches the data they have on file. Naturally, if the security numbers do not match, there is a large probability that that person making the purchase is not the card holder.

If you often do internet purchases, it is best that you simply allocate one credit card for this purpose so you don?t have to keep pulling out cards at every purchase. The less number of times your card is seen by other people, the less chances will there be for thieves to take note of your card number as well as the security digits at the back.

Be vigilant in protecting your identity. Do not divulge your pin number or lend your credit card to anyone. In addition, try to get credit cards where your photo is printed on the card face and sign your receipts (instead of just punching in a pin number). It is always better to be safe than sorry.

This article is brought to you by CardsRatings.net, where you will find over 100 credit cards to choose from. After comparing credit card offers, Card Ratings allows you to apply for the credit card of your choice by clicking the Apply Online button. All applications are secure, and in many cases you will receive a response right away.

Having a credit card is almost a requirement nowadays. From purchasing plane tickets, to renting a car or making hotel reservations, there are simply some things you cannot do without having access to a credit card. One good thing is that a lot of bank accounts not have check cards that allow you to make credit-like purchases that come right out of your account. But even with that added convenience, sometimes you simply need a plain old credit card and if you have bad credit, that can present a real problem when it comes time to fill out the application.

The most common option, and one that most people are familiar with, is the secured credit card. This type of card usually requires some form of collateral to be made available before qualifying for the card. The most common means for doing this is to open a savings account with the bank issuing the card and depositing a sum of money into that account. Then, a portion of the balance of the savings account becomes the credit line you have available on the credit card.

This is almost like a pre-pay type of arrangement and makes things easier for the borrower and the bank. The borrower gets quick and easy access to a true credit card that can be used anywhere and the bank knows that if the borrower defaults for some reason, they can still recoup the money they’re owed by pulling from the funds in the savings account.

Another option is an unsecured credit card specifically for people with bad credit. They’re hard to come by but are definitely out there. Usually, you’ll find these offered by smaller banks that are more willing to take risks with people with bad credit in order to get new customers and earn their business. With an unsecured card, you don’t have to worry about having to pre-pay with any sort of collateral and the bank essentially trusts you to do the right thing, use your card responsibly and pay them back on time.

With either of these options, you have to be fully aware of the fees involved. The bad news is that either way you go, you’re probably going to be paying higher fees and interest rates than someone with excellent credit. This is just one of the ways the banks minimize their risk. But not to worry though because if you pay your balance off each month (or at the most, every other month) then the impact that the interest rate will have on you will be negligible since you’re not carrying a balance.

In addition, once you establish a good payment history over a period of months or perhaps up to a year, you should see a boost in your credit score. Depending on how much that changes your score, you might be able to qualify for a better card with better rates. So essentially, the bad credit charge card can be used as sort of a springboard to help get you up to a higher credit score and qualified for better rates (if managed responsibly).

If you’re ready to explore your options for bad credit charge cards and help boost your credit score by responsibly managing your new credit account, start researching your options today to see which offers might meet your needs.

FACT: It takes most people years to rebuild their credit. Can you wait that long to qualify for a decent credit card? Discover how you can quickly and easily get a bad credit charge card today regardless of your credit rating. Apply for FREE to top-rated offers or get more information by visiting www.BadCreditChargeCard.com

With credit card fraud and banking violations dominating the news headlines at least once every month, consumers are becoming increasingly worried that their credit cards might be abused or stolen; worse yet, many consumers do not know what immediate steps to take if their credit card is lost of stolen. In order to minimise the personal damage to consumers of lost or stolen credit cards, make sure you follow a particular set of practical steps.

It is important that as soon as you are aware of your credit card being lost, stolen or misused, you immediately report the matter to your credit card company by phone or in person. Consult the written credit card agreement that you were given when your card was first issues in order to find the name, address and phone number of the person you need to contact in the event of credit card loss or misuse. However, if this information isn?t clearly set out in this agreement, consumers will not be personally held liable for any misuse of the card. Further, once your credit card company is aware that your card has been lost or stolen, you will not be held liable for any misuse on the card after this. Often, credit card companies need oral confirmation of your credit card loss within seven days after you report it; and this should always be followed by a written notice in order to make the telephone notice more effective.

It is important to keep in mind that the extent of consumer liability for credit card loss or misuse varies widely, depending on the circumstance. For instance, if your credit card is misused by a person who had the credit card with your permission, or someone who is regularly authorised to use your card, you liability is unlimited. But if your card has been stolen and you report it missing immediately, the situation is slightly different; that is, if the card has been misused by the person who stole it to buy goods online, you will be liable for the full amount; but if they have used it to buy goods in a high street retail chain or department store, you’ll be liable for a fraction of the amount they spent.

If you do lose your credit card or are aware that it has been misused, the stress inflicted on your financial and emotional state can make it difficult to take the right actions at the right time. However, make sure you keep a level head and follow the practical steps listed above in order to minimise the extent of damage. Many credit card companies have different ways of dealing with consumer loss or card misuse, so making credit card choices can be confusing; thankfully, many consumer credit card comparison sites, like Moneynet, exist to help you come to the best decision. Additionally, many reputable and established credit card providers, like Barclaycard, will provide you with a detailed agreement if you sign up for one of their credit cards – so you’ll definitely know what steps to take if your card is lost, stolen or the subject of misuse.

Michael is a keen writer living in Edinburgh