diff --git a/api/handlers/v1/auth.go b/api/handlers/v1/auth.go
index b3f9a07..c4e2348 100644
--- a/api/handlers/v1/auth.go
+++ b/api/handlers/v1/auth.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"go-cook/api/domain"
 	"go-cook/api/repositories"
+	"log"
 	"net/http"
 
 	"github.com/golang-jwt/jwt/v5"
@@ -11,16 +12,20 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	ErrJwtMissing       = "auth token is missing"
-	ErrJwtClaimsMissing = "claims missing on token"
-	ErrJwtExpired       = "auth token has expired"
-	ErrJwtScopeMissing  = "required scope is missing"
-	ErrUserNotFound     = "requested user does not exist"
+	ErrJwtMissing           = "auth token is missing"
+	ErrJwtClaimsMissing     = "claims missing on token"
+	ErrJwtExpired           = "auth token has expired"
+	ErrJwtScopeMissing      = "required scope is missing"
+	ErrUserNotFound         = "requested user does not exist"
+	ErrUsernameAlreadyExists = "the requested username already exists"
 )
 
 func (h *Handler) AuthRegister(c echo.Context) error {
-	username := c.QueryParam("username")
-	_, err := h.userRepo.GetByName(username)
+	username := c.FormValue("username")
+	password := c.FormValue("password")
+
+	//username := c.QueryParam("username")
+	exists, err := h.userRepo.GetByName(username)
 	if err != nil {
 		// if we have an err, validate that if its not user not found.
 		// if the user is not found, we can use that name
@@ -31,8 +36,11 @@ func (h *Handler) AuthRegister(c echo.Context) error {
 			})
 		}
 	}
+	if exists.Name == username {
+		return h.InternalServerErrorResponse(c, ErrUsernameAlreadyExists)
+	}
 
-	password := c.QueryParam("password")
+	//password := c.QueryParam("password")
 	err = h.UserService.CheckPasswordForRequirements(password)
 	if err != nil {
 		return c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, domain.ErrorResponse{
@@ -41,7 +49,7 @@ func (h *Handler) AuthRegister(c echo.Context) error {
 		})
 	}
 
-	_, err = h.userRepo.Create(username, password)
+	_, err = h.userRepo.Create(username, password, domain.ScopeRecipeRead)
 	if err != nil {
 		return c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, domain.ErrorResponse{
 			HttpCode: http.StatusInternalServerError,
@@ -53,8 +61,13 @@ func (h *Handler) AuthRegister(c echo.Context) error {
 }
 
 func (h *Handler) AuthLogin(c echo.Context) error {
-	username := c.QueryParam("username")
-	password := c.QueryParam("password")
+	formValues, err := c.FormParams()
+	if err != nil {
+		h.InternalServerErrorResponse(c, err.Error())
+	}
+	log.Println(formValues)
+	username := formValues.Get("name")
+	password := formValues.Get("password")
 
 	// Check to see if they are trying to login with the admin token
 	if username == "" {
@@ -62,7 +75,7 @@ func (h *Handler) AuthLogin(c echo.Context) error {
 	}
 
 	// check if the user exists
-	err := h.UserService.DoesUserExist(username)
+	err = h.UserService.DoesUserExist(username)
 	if err != nil {
 		return h.InternalServerErrorResponse(c, err.Error())
 	}