diff --git a/app/main/views/verify.py b/app/main/views/verify.py
index 6b9927dad..9e434ff65 100644
--- a/app/main/views/verify.py
+++ b/app/main/views/verify.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ def verify_email(token):
 
     session['user_details'] = {"email": user.email_address, "id": user.id}
 
-    if user.auth_type == 'email_auth':
+    if user.email_auth:
         try:
             return activate_user(user.id)
         finally:
diff --git a/tests/app/main/views/test_verify.py b/tests/app/main/views/test_verify.py
index 7c8f6299c..1db9ef38c 100644
--- a/tests/app/main/views/test_verify.py
+++ b/tests/app/main/views/test_verify.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import json
 import uuid
-from datetime import datetime
 from unittest.mock import Mock
 
 from flask import session as flask_session
@@ -9,6 +8,7 @@ from itsdangerous import SignatureExpired
 from notifications_python_client.errors import HTTPError
 
 from app.main.views.verify import activate_user
+from tests.conftest import create_user
 
 
 def test_should_return_verify_template(
@@ -110,12 +110,6 @@ def test_verify_email_redirects_to_verify_if_token_valid(
     token_data = {"user_id": api_user_pending['id'], "secret_code": 'UNUSED'}
     mocker.patch('app.main.views.verify.check_token', return_value=json.dumps(token_data))
 
-    with client_request.session_transaction() as session:
-        session['user_details'] = {
-            'email_address': api_user_pending['email_address'],
-            'id': api_user_pending['id'],
-        }
-
     client_request.get(
         'main.verify_email',
         token='notreal',
@@ -137,35 +131,12 @@ def test_verify_email_doesnt_verify_sms_if_user_on_email_auth(
     mock_activate_user,
     fake_uuid,
 ):
-    pending_user_with_email_auth = {
-        'id': fake_uuid,
-        'name': 'Test User',
-        'password': 'somepassword',
-        'email_address': 'test@user.gov.uk',
-        'mobile_number': '07700 900762',
-        'state': 'pending',
-        'failed_login_count': 0,
-        'permissions': {},
-        'platform_admin': False,
-        'auth_type': 'email_auth',
-        'password_changed_at': str(datetime.utcnow()),
-        'services': [],
-        'organisations': [],
-        'current_session_id': None,
-        'logged_in_at': None,
-        'email_access_validated_at': None,
-        'can_use_webauthn': False,
-    }
+    pending_user_with_email_auth = create_user(auth_type='email_auth', state='pending', id=fake_uuid)
+
     mocker.patch('app.user_api_client.get_user', return_value=pending_user_with_email_auth)
     token_data = {"user_id": pending_user_with_email_auth['id'], "secret_code": 'UNUSED'}
     mocker.patch('app.main.views.verify.check_token', return_value=json.dumps(token_data))
 
-    with client_request.session_transaction() as session:
-        session['user_details'] = {
-            'email_address': pending_user_with_email_auth['email_address'],
-            'id': pending_user_with_email_auth['id'],
-        }
-
     client_request.get(
         'main.verify_email',
         token='notreal',