Day 30: Full Re-Audit of Your Credit After Round 1

Day 30 is your **scoreboard day**. Your Round 1 disputes have had time to run through the investigation process, and this is when many consumers pull fresh reports, compare Day 1 versus Day 30, and build a precise list of what still needs attention in Round 2.

The goal is simple: measure progress, document every change, and create a focused “survivors” list for your next dispute round.

Timing: When to Do Your Re-Audit

Many people aim to do this on or around the 30th day after the credit bureaus received their Round 1 dispute packets. If the exact 30th day falls on a weekend or holiday, some consumers wait until the next business day, so mail and system updates have time to catch up.

Step 1: Pull Fresh Reports from Every Source You Can

The more angles you have on your file, the easier it is to spot changes. On Day 30, many consumers pull reports from multiple sources on the same day to create a “snapshot in time.”

Many people create a single folder named something like Re-Audit_Day30_[YYYY-MM-DD] and drop all PDFs and screenshots there so they can be referenced later.

Step 2: Build a Side-by-Side “Round 1 Results” Sheet

Next, create a new spreadsheet—separate from your master dispute tracker—just for Round 1 results. A typical file name might be:

ROUND 1 RESULTS – Re-Audit Day 30 [Date]

Suggested columns:

Many people also color-code their rows for quick scanning:

• Green – Completely deleted from all bureaus.
• Yellow – Partially deleted or modified.
• Red – Still reporting unchanged on at least one bureau.

Step 3: Summarize Your Round 1 Wins

At the top of your “ROUND 1 RESULTS” sheet, create a small summary table so you can see your progress at a glance.

The numbers above are illustrative only. Actual outcomes depend on each person’s file, the age and type of accounts, and how the law applies to their specific situation.

Many consumers also take a screenshot of updated scores (from Experian.com, Credit Karma, or other monitoring tools) to visually capture any score changes since Day 1.

Step 4: Analyze Why Certain Items Survived

For every row that is still highlighted in red (unchanged tradelines), use the “Why It May Have Survived” column to write your best, good-faith guess. Examples might include:

• Account appears to have been updated with a more recent “last reported” date.
• Item may be tied to a public record that requires a different approach.
• Furnisher responded but did not agree with your documentation.
• You suspect the dispute was processed as a generic or incomplete challenge.
• You think your evidence for that item was weaker than for others.

The goal isn’t to guess the law; it’s to understand the pattern so your Round 2 strategy can be more targeted and better documented.

Step 5: Update Your Original Master Dispute Spreadsheet

Once your Round 1 results sheet is complete, fold that information back into your master tracker. At the far right of your main spreadsheet, many people add columns such as:

• Round 1 Result (Deleted / Modified / Still Reporting)
• Day 30 Status – EQ
• Day 30 Status – EX
• Day 30 Status – TU
• Round 2 Letter Type Planned
• Round 2 Target Send Date

Then they filter the sheet by “Still Reporting” or “Survived” to create a Round 2 “kill list” of items that deserve extra focus and documentation.

Step 6: Screenshot and Archive Every Remaining Negative Item

Documentation from Day 30 is often some of the most important evidence in your entire process. Many consumers:

• Capture full-page screenshots or PDF pages of every remaining negative item on each bureau’s report.
• Use highlighting and notes (for example, “Still reporting on [date] after dispute mailed [date]”) on a printed or digital copy.
• Save files into subfolders like Survivors_EQ, Survivors_EX, Survivors_TU inside the main Re-Audit_Day30_[Date] folder.

The result is a clearly organized evidence trail that shows what changed, what didn’t, and when.

Step 7: Reflect on Progress (and Plan Round 2)

Many consumers are pleasantly surprised by how much Round 1 accomplishes, especially for older or clearly inaccurate accounts. Others see more modest changes and realize they’ll need multiple rounds of disputes and ongoing positive-credit building to reach their goals.

Typical Round 1 outcomes vary, but some people report:

• Substantial cleanup of outdated or obviously incorrect tradelines.
• Several hard inquiries removed or updated.
• Noticeable improvements in credit scores over time.

Results are never guaranteed, and score changes depend on many factors including utilization, new accounts, payment history, and how each scoring model treats your data.

Whatever your numbers look like, Day 30 gives you:

• Proof of what was deleted or corrected.
• A short, focused list of accounts that still need attention.
• A clean evidence folder you can use to plan Round 2 disputes, escalate complaints, or consult with an attorney if you believe your rights have been violated.

How Day 30 Fits into the Bigger Plan

Day 30 is where Round 1 stops being a mystery and becomes data. Instead of guessing whether your credit is improving, you’ll have:

• Before-and-after reports from multiple sources.
• Clear statistics on deletions, updates, and survivors.
• A Round 2 roadmap that targets the toughest items with better documentation.

From here, Days 31–60 often focus on targeted Round 2 disputes, continued monitoring, and parallel strategies like building positive trade lines, managing utilization, and preparing for future goals (auto loans, mortgages, business credit, etc.).