SCORE AUDIT
Audit your file. Hit the right targets.
See how the five score factors are weighted, lock your utilization range, and run a checklist across Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Where the weight actually sits
GoodScore ranks every action against these five factors so you spend time on payment history and utilization first.
Payment history
The single heaviest factor. On-time payment consistency across all tradelines, including recency and severity of any missed payments.
Credit utilization
Reported revolving balances relative to limits, evaluated both per-account and in aggregate across your file.
Length of history
Average account age, oldest account age, and how established your overall file is.
Credit mix
Diversity across revolving (cards), installment (loans) and other account types.
New credit
Recent hard inquiries and newly opened accounts, which can temporarily affect average account age.
Utilization benchmark panel
Use these as operating targets. Plug your numbers into the Utilization Engine.
Statement balance vs. reporting cycle
| Concept | What it means |
|---|---|
| Statement date | The balance on this date is typically what gets sent to the bureaus, regardless of when it's paid. |
| Due date | Paying in full by the due date avoids interest, but doesn't change what was already reported. |
| Reporting lag | Furnishers usually report on a roughly 30-day cycle, so changes can take a cycle to appear. |
| Multiple cards | Aggregate utilization sums all revolving balances and limits together, alongside per-card ratios. |
Bureau audit, four stages
Work a file from pull to follow-up. Pick a stage to see the action.
Collect your reports
Pull Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Line up accounts, balances, and personal details across all three — mismatches are the first items to dispute.
Verify accuracy
Check names, addresses, account status, balances, and dates against your own records. Flag anything wrong, unfamiliar, or stale — that's your dispute list.
Prioritize by impact
Hit payment-history errors and high-utilization cards first. Those two factors carry the most weight, so they move the score fastest.
Track across cycles
Re-check after the next reporting cycle. Watch the trend — utilization, inquiries, and dispute results — not a single daily reading.
Credit health checklist
Run this list every cycle. Green means the file is ready for the next move.
All accounts reporting current
No unexpected late marks or collections appearing across any of the three files.
Utilization within target range
Both per-card and aggregate ratios sit within your chosen benchmark tier.
Inquiries limited & expected
No unfamiliar hard inquiries; recent inquiries match applications you actually made.
Personal information accurate
Name, address history, and identifying details are correctly reported by all three bureaus.
Old accounts still reflected
Long-standing accounts remain open and reporting to preserve average account age.
Disputes documented
Any open disputes are logged with dates, reference numbers, and copies of correspondence.
Lock your utilization target
Open the engine and get the exact balance that puts you in range.