This is the worst time to miss a bill. Pay down any large credit card or other large revolving accounts if you can, because high balances will hurt your credit rating. And avoid opening any other accounts before the loan you're pursuing is closed.

In some ways, they've added one more card to their playing hand.

This is the worst time to miss a bill. Pay down any large credit card or other large revolving accounts if you can, because high balances will hurt your credit rating. And avoid opening any other accounts before the loan you're pursuing is closed.

Consumers who are thinking of opening one of these no-limit credit cards may want to think how deeply their scores will be affected.