If you're like me, you probably have a bunch of store credit cards that you never use. You know, the ones you opened to get 20 percent off your first purchase and then never used again. If you're cleaning up your credit history, you may be tempted to close out some of these accounts. Before you do, though, be aware that this can actually hurt your credit score. Closing them suddenly can raise your debt utilization ratio and bring your score down. CNBC personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich explains.

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