diff --git a/packages/auth/auth.go b/packages/auth/auth.go
index 4550204..cf7763f 100644
--- a/packages/auth/auth.go
+++ b/packages/auth/auth.go
@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ func register(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(creds)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println(err)
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusInternalServerError)
-		returnMessage.Message = "unexpected error. please contact the administrator"
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusBadRequest)
+		returnMessage.Message = "bad data provided"
 		render.JSON(w, r, returnMessage)
 		return
 	}
@@ -194,15 +194,20 @@ func register(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 }
 
 func signin(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	returnMessage := ReturnMessage{}
 	creds := &UserCredentials{}
 	err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(creds)
 	if err != nil {
 		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusBadRequest)
+		returnMessage.Message = "bad data provided"
+		render.JSON(w, r, returnMessage)
 		return
 	}
-	verified, ok := checkPassword(w, *creds)
+	verify_pw, ok := checkPassword(w, *creds)
 	if !ok {
-		render.JSON(w, r, verified)
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusBadRequest)
+		returnMessage.Message = verify_pw
+		render.JSON(w, r, returnMessage)
 		return
 	}
 	expirationTime := time.Now().Add(24 * time.Hour)
@@ -218,9 +223,9 @@ func signin(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		},
 	}
 	_, tokenString, _ := TokenAuth.Encode(claims)
-	token := setCookies(w, tokenString, expirationTime)
+	setCookies(w, tokenString, expirationTime)
 	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
-	render.JSON(w, r, token)
+	render.JSON(w, r, returnMessage)
 }
 
 func refresh(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
@@ -233,8 +238,8 @@ func refresh(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	err := user_claims_query.Scan(&user_claims.Username, &user_claims.Admin, &user_claims.Verified)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println(err)
-		returnMessage.Message = "unexpected error refreshing your token, please try again later"
 		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		returnMessage.Message = "unexpected error refreshing your token, please try again later"
 		render.JSON(w, r, returnMessage)
 		return
 	}
@@ -247,18 +252,19 @@ func refresh(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		},
 	}
 	_, tokenString, _ := TokenAuth.Encode(newClaims)
-	token := setCookies(w, tokenString, expirationTime)
+	setCookies(w, tokenString, expirationTime)
 	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
-	render.JSON(w, r, token)
+	returnMessage.Message = "jwt refreshed"
+	render.JSON(w, r, returnMessage)
 }
 
-func setCookies(w http.ResponseWriter, jwt string, expiration time.Time) string {
+func setCookies(w http.ResponseWriter, jwt string, expiration time.Time) {
 	splitToken := strings.Split(jwt, ".")
 	dataCookie := http.Cookie{Name: "DataCookie", Value: strings.Join(splitToken[:2], "."), Expires: expiration, HttpOnly: false, Path: "/", Domain: ".sudoscientist.com", MaxAge: 360, Secure: true}
 	http.SetCookie(w, &dataCookie)
 	signatureCookie := http.Cookie{Name: "SignatureCookie", Value: splitToken[2], Expires: expiration, HttpOnly: true, Path: "/", Domain: ".sudoscientist.com", MaxAge: 360, Secure: true}
 	http.SetCookie(w, &signatureCookie)
-	return strings.Join(splitToken[:2], ".")
+	return
 }
 
 func sendEmailToken(w http.ResponseWriter, token string, name string, email string) (returnMessage ReturnMessage, ok bool) {