diff --git a/tipp/views.py b/tipp/views.py
index 3c2319a..e64bd89 100644
--- a/tipp/views.py
+++ b/tipp/views.py
@@ -38,7 +38,12 @@ from tipp.forms import *
 from openliga import *
 from datetime import datetime
 from PIL import Image as PImage
-import urllib2, pytz, os
+import urllib2, pytz, os, sys
+
+# setting utf-8 as default encoding to avoid errors in file 
+# uploads and form data
+reload(sys)
+sys.setdefaultencoding('utf8')
 
 timezoneLocal = pytz.timezone('Europe/Berlin')
 
@@ -68,25 +73,17 @@ def profile(request, pk):
 
     # If it's a HTTP POST, we're interested in processing form data.
     if request.method == 'POST':
-        # Attempt to grab information from the raw form information.
-        # Note that we make use of both UserForm and UserProfileForm.
         user_form = UserForm(data=request.POST, instance=user)
         profile_form = UserProfileForm(data=request.POST, instance=profile)
 
-        # If the two forms are valid...
         if user_form.is_valid() and profile_form.is_valid():
             
-            # Save the user's form data to the database.
             user = user_form.save()
 
-            # Now sort out the UserProfile instance.
-            # Since we need to set the user attribute ourselves, we set commit=False.
-            # This delays saving the model until we're ready to avoid integrity problems.
             profile = profile_form.save(commit=False)
             profile.user = user
 
             # Did the user provide a profile picture?
-            # If so, we need to get it from the input form and put it in the UserProfile model.
             if 'avatar' in request.FILES:
                 profile.avatar = request.FILES['avatar']
                 # Now we save the UserProfile model instance.
@@ -108,8 +105,6 @@ def profile(request, pk):
             for item in request.POST:
                 debug.append(str(item) + " -> " + str(request.POST[item]))
 
-
-
         # Invalid form or forms - mistakes or something else?
         # Print problems to the terminal.
         # They'll also be shown to the user.
@@ -117,6 +112,7 @@ def profile(request, pk):
             print user_form.errors, profile_form.errors
 
         return redirect( '/accounts/profile/' + str(user.id) )
+
     # Not a HTTP POST, so we render our form using two ModelForm instances.
     # These forms will be blank, ready for user input.
     else:
@@ -335,7 +331,13 @@ def matchday(request, ls, season, matchday, template_name='md.html'):
             try:
                 matetipp = Tipp.objects.get(tipperID=mate['mate'],matchID=match.matchID)
                 if match_started is True:
-                    mate['tipps'].append(str(matetipp.pointsTeam1) + ":" + str(matetipp.pointsTeam2) + "(" + str(matetipp.score) + ")") 
+                    if matetipp.score is None:
+                        score = u'\u231B'
+                    else:
+                        score = matetipp.score
+
+                    mate['tipps'].append(str(matetipp.pointsTeam1) + ":" + str(matetipp.pointsTeam2) + \
+                        "(" + str(score) + ")") 
                     if match.finished is True:
                         mate['sum_score'] += matetipp.score
                 else:
@@ -401,8 +403,11 @@ def charts(request, ls, season, pos='default', template_name='charts.html'):
             # get user object, then fetch matches for user
             user = User.objects.get(id=userid)
             score = Tipp.objects.filter(matchID__in=matches, tipperID=user).aggregate(Sum('score'))
-
-            user_dict[user.first_name] = score['score__sum']
+            
+            if score['score__sum'] is None:
+                user_dict[user.first_name] = 0
+            else:
+                user_dict[user.first_name] = score['score__sum']
 
         mandant_dict[mandant.name] = sorted(user_dict.items(), key=lambda x: x[1], reverse=True)