One of the many myths about credit scores, and a dangerous one, is that missing just one payment won’t hurt you. When you miss a payment deadline, even for the first time, you risk a lower credit score. The best thing you can do is never miss a payment. But when that is not possible, it is key to pay off the balance quickly, including any late payment penalties. And you can make an even better impression on creditors if you work hard to make it an isolated incident. For more on credit scores and missed payments, read the full article here.