diff --git a/src/handlers/userHandler.js b/src/handlers/userHandler.js
index 90c155bb..776649a8 100644
--- a/src/handlers/userHandler.js
+++ b/src/handlers/userHandler.js
@@ -101,13 +101,13 @@ exports.verifyUser = async (req, reply) => {
       user.phone = usertobeInserted.phone;
       user.emails = usertobeInserted.emails;
     }
-    username = user.username;
+    phone = user.phone;
     userpass = req.body.password;
 
     // check if user exists in the system. If user exists , display message that
-    // username is not available
+    // phone number is not available
 
-    userExists = await User.findOne({ username: username });
+    userExists = await User.findOne({ phone: phone });
     if (userExists) {
       // return user exists message
       error = {
@@ -115,9 +115,9 @@ exports.verifyUser = async (req, reply) => {
           error: true,
           code: 10001,
           message:
-            "10001 - Username " +
-            userExists.username +
-            " is not available. please use a different username",
+            "10001 - Phone " +
+            userExists.phone +
+            " is not available. please use a different phone number",
         },
       };
       req.body.regError = error;
diff --git a/src/models/User.js b/src/models/User.js
index c962df5e..38151b5f 100644
--- a/src/models/User.js
+++ b/src/models/User.js
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ const generateBookingId = async () => {
 
 const userSchema = new mongoose.Schema(
   {
-    username: { type: String, unique: true, trim: true },
+    username: { type: String },
     phone: { type: String, unique: true, trim: true },
     address: String,
     customerId: String,
diff --git a/src/routes/usersRoute.js b/src/routes/usersRoute.js
index 96bf170b..d3b0ce94 100644
--- a/src/routes/usersRoute.js
+++ b/src/routes/usersRoute.js
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ module.exports = function (fastify, opts, next) {
       body: {
         type: "object",
         properties: {
-          username: { type: "string" },
+          phone: { type: "string" },
           password: { type: "string" },
           emails: {
             type: "array",
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ module.exports = function (fastify, opts, next) {
           },
           firstName: { type: "string", default: null },
           lastName: { type: "string", default: null },
-          phone: { type: "string" },
+          username: { type: "string" },
           buildingName: { type: "string", default: null },
           inchargeName: { type: "string", default: null },
           address1: { type: "string", default: null },