diff --git a/public/js/controllers/groupsCtrl.js b/public/js/controllers/groupsCtrl.js
index b5b38d9fa5..123fc2c625 100644
--- a/public/js/controllers/groupsCtrl.js
+++ b/public/js/controllers/groupsCtrl.js
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ habitrpg.controller("GroupsCtrl", ['$scope', '$rootScope', 'Groups', '$http', 'A
     }
 
     $scope.nameTagClasses = function(message){
+      if (!message) return; // fixme what's triggering this?
       if (message.contributor) {
         if (message.contributor.match(/npc/i) || message.contributor.match(/royal/i)) {
           return 'label-royal';
diff --git a/public/js/services/userServices.js b/public/js/services/userServices.js
index 31f285f471..4ea6292192 100644
--- a/public/js/services/userServices.js
+++ b/public/js/services/userServices.js
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ angular.module('userServices', []).
                     settings.auth.apiToken = token;
                     settings.online = true;
                     if (user && user._v) user._v--; // shortcut to always fetch new updates on page reload
-                    this.log({}, cb);
+                    userServices.log({}, cb);
                 } else {
                     alert('Please enter your ID and Token in settings.')
                 }
@@ -155,17 +155,16 @@ angular.module('userServices', []).
               var log = { op: 'set', data: {} };
               window.habitrpgShared.helpers.dotSet(k, v, this.user);
               log.data[k] = v;
-              this.log(log);
+              userServices.log(log);
             },
 
             setMultiple: function(obj){
-              var self = this;
               var log = { op: 'set', data: {} };
               _.each(obj, function(v,k){
-                window.habitrpgShared.helpers.dotSet(k, v, self.user);
+                window.habitrpgShared.helpers.dotSet(k, v, userServices.user);
                 log.data[k] = v;
               });
-              self.log(log);
+              userServices.log(log);
             },
 
             save: save,
diff --git a/src/models/user.js b/src/models/user.js
index 0ff0a580f2..c7fea3994f 100644
--- a/src/models/user.js
+++ b/src/models/user.js
@@ -42,15 +42,14 @@ var UserSchema = new Schema({
       loggedin: Date
     }
   },
-  /* TODO*/
 
-  backer: Schema.Types.Mixed,
-  /*
-  #    tier: Number
-  #    admin: Boolean
-  #    contributor: Boolean
-  #    tokensApplieds: Boolean
-  */
+  backer: {
+    tier: Number,
+    admin: Boolean,
+    npc: String,
+    contributor: String,
+    tokensApplied: Boolean
+  },
 
   balance: Number,
   habitIds: Array,
@@ -155,12 +154,12 @@ var UserSchema = new Schema({
   },
   preferences: {
     armorSet: String,
-    dayStart: Number,
-    gender: String,
-    hair: String,
-    hideHeader: Boolean,
-    showHelm: Boolean,
-    skin: String,
+    dayStart: {type:Number, 'default': 0},
+    gender: {type:String, 'default': 'm'},
+    hair: {type:String, 'default':'blond'},
+    hideHeader: {type:Boolean, 'default':false},
+    showHelm: {type:Boolean, 'default':true},
+    skin: {type:String, 'default':'white'},
     timezoneOffset: Number
   },
   profile: {