diff --git a/app/main/views/add_service.py b/app/main/views/add_service.py
index 3f8a5e064..2869788ce 100644
--- a/app/main/views/add_service.py
+++ b/app/main/views/add_service.py
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ def _add_invited_user_to_service(invited_user):
 
 def _create_service(service_name, email_from):
     service_id = service_api_client.create_service(service_name=service_name,
-                                                   active=False,
                                                    message_limit=current_app.config['DEFAULT_SERVICE_LIMIT'],
                                                    restricted=True,
                                                    user_id=session['user_id'],
diff --git a/tests/app/main/views/test_add_service.py b/tests/app/main/views/test_add_service.py
index a1639663b..537ccad58 100644
--- a/tests/app/main/views/test_add_service.py
+++ b/tests/app/main/views/test_add_service.py
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ def test_should_add_service_and_redirect_to_tour_when_no_services(app_,
             assert mock_get_services_with_no_services.called
             mock_create_service.assert_called_once_with(
                 service_name='testing the post',
-                active=False,
                 message_limit=app_.config['DEFAULT_SERVICE_LIMIT'],
                 restricted=True,
                 user_id=api_user_active.id,
@@ -73,7 +72,6 @@ def test_should_add_service_and_redirect_to_dashboard_when_existing_service(app_
             assert mock_get_services.called
             mock_create_service.assert_called_once_with(
                 service_name='testing the post',
-                active=False,
                 message_limit=app_.config['DEFAULT_SERVICE_LIMIT'],
                 restricted=True,
                 user_id=api_user_active.id,
diff --git a/tests/app/main/views/test_service_settings.py b/tests/app/main/views/test_service_settings.py
index ae0484b28..4090ec366 100644
--- a/tests/app/main/views/test_service_settings.py
+++ b/tests/app/main/views/test_service_settings.py
@@ -545,11 +545,7 @@ def test_switch_service_from_research_mode_to_normal(
     with app_.test_request_context():
         with app_.test_client() as client:
             service = service_json(
-                "1234",
-                "Test Service",
-                [active_user_with_permissions.id],
-                message_limit=1000,
-                active=False,
+                users=[active_user_with_permissions.id],
                 restricted=True,
                 research_mode=True
             )
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index e9f7cc8f9..2d3d14120 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -67,9 +67,7 @@ def fake_uuid():
 @pytest.fixture(scope='function')
 def mock_get_service(mocker, api_user_active):
     def _get(service_id):
-        service = service_json(
-            service_id, "Test Service", [api_user_active.id], message_limit=50,
-            active=False, restricted=True)
+        service = service_json(service_id, users=[api_user_active.id], message_limit=50)
         return {'data': service}
 
     return mocker.patch('app.service_api_client.get_service', side_effect=_get)
@@ -125,10 +123,7 @@ def mock_get_live_service(mocker, api_user_active):
     def _get(service_id):
         service = service_json(
             service_id,
-            "Test Service",
-            [api_user_active.id],
-            message_limit=1000,
-            active=False,
+            users=[api_user_active.id],
             restricted=False)
         return {'data': service}
 
@@ -137,10 +132,9 @@ def mock_get_live_service(mocker, api_user_active):
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope='function')
 def mock_create_service(mocker):
-    def _create(service_name, active, message_limit, restricted, user_id, email_from):
+    def _create(service_name, message_limit, restricted, user_id, email_from):
         service = service_json(
-            101, service_name, [user_id], message_limit=message_limit,
-            active=active, restricted=restricted, email_from=email_from)
+            101, service_name, [user_id], message_limit=message_limit, restricted=restricted, email_from=email_from)
         return service['id']
 
     return mocker.patch(
@@ -152,7 +146,7 @@ def mock_update_service(mocker):
     def _update(service_id, **kwargs):
         service = service_json(
             service_id,
-            **{key: kwargs.get(key) for key in [
+            **{key: kwargs[key] for key in kwargs if key in [
                 'name',
                 'users',
                 'message_limit',