diff --git a/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/DeletingAMessageTests.js b/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/DeletingAMessageTests.js
index 2d77c4cfe6..1e6b3db5eb 100644
--- a/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/DeletingAMessageTests.js
+++ b/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/DeletingAMessageTests.js
@@ -5,46 +5,43 @@ const ChatClient = require('./helpers/ChatClient')
 const ChatApp = require('./helpers/ChatApp')
 
 describe('Deleting a message', async function () {
+  const projectId = ObjectId().toString()
+  const userId = ObjectId().toString()
+  const threadId = ObjectId().toString()
+
   before(async function () {
-    this.project_id = ObjectId().toString()
-    this.user_id = ObjectId().toString()
-    this.thread_id = ObjectId().toString()
     await ChatApp.ensureRunning()
   })
 
   describe('in a thread', async function () {
     before(async function () {
-      const { response, body: message } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.thread_id,
-        this.user_id,
+      const { response } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
+        projectId,
+        threadId,
+        userId,
         'first message'
       )
-      this.message = message
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(201)
-      const { response: response2, body: message2 } =
+      const { response: response2, body: message } =
         await ChatClient.sendMessage(
-          this.project_id,
-          this.thread_id,
-          this.user_id,
+          projectId,
+          threadId,
+          userId,
           'deleted message'
         )
-      this.message = message2
       expect(response2.statusCode).to.equal(201)
       const { response: response3 } = await ChatClient.deleteMessage(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.thread_id,
-        this.message.id
+        projectId,
+        threadId,
+        message.id
       )
       expect(response3.statusCode).to.equal(204)
     })
 
     it('should then remove the message from the threads', async function () {
-      const { response, body: threads } = await ChatClient.getThreads(
-        this.project_id
-      )
+      const { response, body: threads } = await ChatClient.getThreads(projectId)
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(200)
-      expect(threads[this.thread_id].messages.length).to.equal(1)
+      expect(threads[threadId].messages.length).to.equal(1)
     })
   })
 })
diff --git a/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/DeletingAThreadTests.js b/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/DeletingAThreadTests.js
index 8ad06c93cc..74533c6f44 100644
--- a/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/DeletingAThreadTests.js
+++ b/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/DeletingAThreadTests.js
@@ -5,34 +5,32 @@ const ChatClient = require('./helpers/ChatClient')
 const ChatApp = require('./helpers/ChatApp')
 
 describe('Deleting a thread', async function () {
+  const projectId = ObjectId().toString()
+  const userId = ObjectId().toString()
   before(async function () {
-    this.project_id = ObjectId().toString()
-    this.user_id = ObjectId().toString()
     await ChatApp.ensureRunning()
   })
 
   describe('with a thread that is deleted', async function () {
+    const threadId = ObjectId().toString()
+    const content = 'deleted thread message'
     before(async function () {
-      this.thread_id = ObjectId().toString()
-      this.content = 'deleted thread message'
       const { response } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.thread_id,
-        this.user_id,
-        this.content
+        projectId,
+        threadId,
+        userId,
+        content
       )
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(201)
       const { response: response2 } = await ChatClient.deleteThread(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.thread_id
+        projectId,
+        threadId
       )
       expect(response2.statusCode).to.equal(204)
     })
 
     it('should then not list the thread for the project', async function () {
-      const { response, body: threads } = await ChatClient.getThreads(
-        this.project_id
-      )
+      const { response, body: threads } = await ChatClient.getThreads(projectId)
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(200)
       expect(Object.keys(threads).length).to.equal(0)
     })
diff --git a/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/EditingAMessageTests.js b/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/EditingAMessageTests.js
index fa3581be93..93e194bab8 100644
--- a/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/EditingAMessageTests.js
+++ b/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/EditingAMessageTests.js
@@ -5,47 +5,40 @@ const ChatClient = require('./helpers/ChatClient')
 const ChatApp = require('./helpers/ChatApp')
 
 describe('Editing a message', async function () {
+  const projectId = ObjectId().toString()
+  const userId = ObjectId().toString()
+  const threadId = ObjectId().toString()
   before(async function () {
-    this.project_id = ObjectId().toString()
-    this.user_id = ObjectId().toString()
-    this.thread_id = ObjectId().toString()
     await ChatApp.ensureRunning()
   })
 
   describe('in a thread', async function () {
+    const content = 'thread message'
+    const newContent = 'updated thread message'
     before(async function () {
-      this.content = 'thread message'
-      this.new_content = 'updated thread message'
       const { response, body: message } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.thread_id,
-        this.user_id,
-        this.content
+        projectId,
+        threadId,
+        userId,
+        content
       )
-      this.message = message
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(201)
-      expect(this.message.id).to.exist
-      expect(this.message.content).to.equal(this.content)
-      const { response: response2, body: newMessage } =
-        await ChatClient.editMessage(
-          this.project_id,
-          this.thread_id,
-          this.message.id,
-          this.new_content
-        )
-      this.new_message = newMessage
+      expect(message.id).to.exist
+      expect(message.content).to.equal(content)
+      const { response: response2 } = await ChatClient.editMessage(
+        projectId,
+        threadId,
+        message.id,
+        newContent
+      )
       expect(response2.statusCode).to.equal(204)
     })
 
     it('should then list the updated message in the threads', async function () {
-      const { response, body: threads } = await ChatClient.getThreads(
-        this.project_id
-      )
+      const { response, body: threads } = await ChatClient.getThreads(projectId)
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(200)
-      expect(threads[this.thread_id].messages.length).to.equal(1)
-      expect(threads[this.thread_id].messages[0].content).to.equal(
-        this.new_content
-      )
+      expect(threads[threadId].messages.length).to.equal(1)
+      expect(threads[threadId].messages[0].content).to.equal(newContent)
     })
   })
 })
diff --git a/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/GettingMessagesTests.js b/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/GettingMessagesTests.js
index 208e785914..fb400ecea6 100644
--- a/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/GettingMessagesTests.js
+++ b/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/GettingMessagesTests.js
@@ -5,100 +5,99 @@ const ChatClient = require('./helpers/ChatClient')
 const ChatApp = require('./helpers/ChatApp')
 
 describe('Getting messages', async function () {
+  const userId1 = ObjectId().toString()
+  const userId2 = ObjectId().toString()
+  const content1 = 'foo bar'
+  const content2 = 'hello world'
   before(async function () {
-    this.user_id1 = ObjectId().toString()
-    this.user_id2 = ObjectId().toString()
-    this.content1 = 'foo bar'
-    this.content2 = 'hello world'
     await ChatApp.ensureRunning()
   })
 
   describe('globally', async function () {
+    const projectId = ObjectId().toString()
     before(async function () {
-      this.project_id = ObjectId().toString()
       const { response } = await ChatClient.sendGlobalMessage(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.user_id1,
-        this.content1
+        projectId,
+        userId1,
+        content1
       )
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(201)
       const { response: response2 } = await ChatClient.sendGlobalMessage(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.user_id2,
-        this.content2
+        projectId,
+        userId2,
+        content2
       )
       expect(response2.statusCode).to.equal(201)
     })
 
     it('should contain the messages and populated users when getting the messages', async function () {
       const { response, body: messages } = await ChatClient.getGlobalMessages(
-        this.project_id
+        projectId
       )
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(200)
       expect(messages.length).to.equal(2)
       messages.reverse()
-      expect(messages[0].content).to.equal(this.content1)
-      expect(messages[0].user_id).to.equal(this.user_id1)
-      expect(messages[1].content).to.equal(this.content2)
-      expect(messages[1].user_id).to.equal(this.user_id2)
+      expect(messages[0].content).to.equal(content1)
+      expect(messages[0].user_id).to.equal(userId1)
+      expect(messages[1].content).to.equal(content2)
+      expect(messages[1].user_id).to.equal(userId2)
     })
   })
 
   describe('from all the threads', async function () {
+    const projectId = ObjectId().toString()
+    const threadId1 = ObjectId().toString()
+    const threadId2 = ObjectId().toString()
+
     before(async function () {
-      this.project_id = ObjectId().toString()
-      this.thread_id1 = ObjectId().toString()
-      this.thread_id2 = ObjectId().toString()
       const { response } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.thread_id1,
-        this.user_id1,
+        projectId,
+        threadId1,
+        userId1,
         'one'
       )
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(201)
       const { response: response2 } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.thread_id2,
-        this.user_id2,
+        projectId,
+        threadId2,
+        userId2,
         'two'
       )
       expect(response2.statusCode).to.equal(201)
       const { response: response3 } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.thread_id1,
-        this.user_id1,
+        projectId,
+        threadId1,
+        userId1,
         'three'
       )
       expect(response3.statusCode).to.equal(201)
       const { response: response4 } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.thread_id2,
-        this.user_id2,
+        projectId,
+        threadId2,
+        userId2,
         'four'
       )
       expect(response4.statusCode).to.equal(201)
     })
 
     it('should contain a dictionary of threads with messages with populated users', async function () {
-      const { response, body: threads } = await ChatClient.getThreads(
-        this.project_id
-      )
+      const { response, body: threads } = await ChatClient.getThreads(projectId)
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(200)
       expect(Object.keys(threads).length).to.equal(2)
-      const thread1 = threads[this.thread_id1]
+      const thread1 = threads[threadId1]
       expect(thread1.messages.length).to.equal(2)
-      const thread2 = threads[this.thread_id2]
+      const thread2 = threads[threadId2]
       expect(thread2.messages.length).to.equal(2)
 
       expect(thread1.messages[0].content).to.equal('one')
-      expect(thread1.messages[0].user_id).to.equal(this.user_id1)
+      expect(thread1.messages[0].user_id).to.equal(userId1)
       expect(thread1.messages[1].content).to.equal('three')
-      expect(thread1.messages[1].user_id).to.equal(this.user_id1)
+      expect(thread1.messages[1].user_id).to.equal(userId1)
 
       expect(thread2.messages[0].content).to.equal('two')
-      expect(thread2.messages[0].user_id).to.equal(this.user_id2)
+      expect(thread2.messages[0].user_id).to.equal(userId2)
       expect(thread2.messages[1].content).to.equal('four')
-      expect(thread2.messages[1].user_id).to.equal(this.user_id2)
+      expect(thread2.messages[1].user_id).to.equal(userId2)
     })
   })
 })
diff --git a/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/ResolvingAThreadTests.js b/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/ResolvingAThreadTests.js
index 6fd719c553..d14c004943 100644
--- a/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/ResolvingAThreadTests.js
+++ b/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/ResolvingAThreadTests.js
@@ -5,95 +5,89 @@ const ChatClient = require('./helpers/ChatClient')
 const ChatApp = require('./helpers/ChatApp')
 
 describe('Resolving a thread', async function () {
+  const projectId = ObjectId().toString()
+  const userId = ObjectId().toString()
   before(async function () {
-    this.project_id = ObjectId().toString()
-    this.user_id = ObjectId().toString()
     await ChatApp.ensureRunning()
   })
 
   describe('with a resolved thread', async function () {
+    const threadId = ObjectId().toString()
+    const content = 'resolved message'
     before(async function () {
-      this.thread_id = ObjectId().toString()
-      this.content = 'resolved message'
       const { response } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.thread_id,
-        this.user_id,
-        this.content
+        projectId,
+        threadId,
+        userId,
+        content
       )
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(201)
       const { response: response2 } = await ChatClient.resolveThread(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.thread_id,
-        this.user_id
+        projectId,
+        threadId,
+        userId
       )
       expect(response2.statusCode).to.equal(204)
     })
 
     it('should then list the thread as resolved', async function () {
-      const { response, body: threads } = await ChatClient.getThreads(
-        this.project_id
-      )
+      const { response, body: threads } = await ChatClient.getThreads(projectId)
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(200)
-      expect(threads[this.thread_id].resolved).to.equal(true)
-      expect(threads[this.thread_id].resolved_by_user_id).to.equal(this.user_id)
-      const resolvedAt = new Date(threads[this.thread_id].resolved_at)
+      expect(threads[threadId].resolved).to.equal(true)
+      expect(threads[threadId].resolved_by_user_id).to.equal(userId)
+      const resolvedAt = new Date(threads[threadId].resolved_at)
       expect(new Date() - resolvedAt).to.be.below(1000)
     })
   })
 
   describe('when a thread is not resolved', async function () {
+    const threadId = ObjectId().toString()
+    const content = 'open message'
     before(async function () {
-      this.thread_id = ObjectId().toString()
-      this.content = 'open message'
       const { response } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.thread_id,
-        this.user_id,
-        this.content
+        projectId,
+        threadId,
+        userId,
+        content
       )
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(201)
     })
 
     it('should not list the thread as resolved', async function () {
-      const { response, body: threads } = await ChatClient.getThreads(
-        this.project_id
-      )
+      const { response, body: threads } = await ChatClient.getThreads(projectId)
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(200)
-      expect(threads[this.thread_id].resolved).to.be.undefined
+      expect(threads[threadId].resolved).to.be.undefined
     })
   })
 
   describe('when a thread is resolved then reopened', async function () {
+    const threadId = ObjectId().toString()
+    const content = 'resolved message'
     before(async function () {
-      this.thread_id = ObjectId().toString()
-      this.content = 'resolved message'
       const { response } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.thread_id,
-        this.user_id,
-        this.content
+        projectId,
+        threadId,
+        userId,
+        content
       )
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(201)
       const { response: response2 } = await ChatClient.resolveThread(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.thread_id,
-        this.user_id
+        projectId,
+        threadId,
+        userId
       )
       expect(response2.statusCode).to.equal(204)
       const { response: response3 } = await ChatClient.reopenThread(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.thread_id
+        projectId,
+        threadId
       )
       expect(response3.statusCode).to.equal(204)
     })
 
     it('should not list the thread as resolved', async function () {
-      const { response, body: threads } = await ChatClient.getThreads(
-        this.project_id
-      )
+      const { response, body: threads } = await ChatClient.getThreads(projectId)
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(200)
-      expect(threads[this.thread_id].resolved).to.be.undefined
+      expect(threads[threadId].resolved).to.be.undefined
     })
   })
 })
diff --git a/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/SendingAMessageTests.js b/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/SendingAMessageTests.js
index 9c8a252f3f..9f3b87a26c 100644
--- a/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/SendingAMessageTests.js
+++ b/services/chat/test/acceptance/js/SendingAMessageTests.js
@@ -10,61 +10,59 @@ describe('Sending a message', async function () {
   })
 
   describe('globally', async function () {
+    const projectId = ObjectId().toString()
+    const userId = ObjectId().toString()
+    const content = 'global message'
     before(async function () {
-      this.project_id = ObjectId().toString()
-      this.user_id = ObjectId().toString()
-      this.content = 'global message'
       const { response, body } = await ChatClient.sendGlobalMessage(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.user_id,
-        this.content
+        projectId,
+        userId,
+        content
       )
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(201)
-      expect(body.content).to.equal(this.content)
-      expect(body.user_id).to.equal(this.user_id)
-      expect(body.room_id).to.equal(this.project_id)
+      expect(body.content).to.equal(content)
+      expect(body.user_id).to.equal(userId)
+      expect(body.room_id).to.equal(projectId)
     })
 
     it('should then list the message in the project messages', async function () {
       const { response, body: messages } = await ChatClient.getGlobalMessages(
-        this.project_id
+        projectId
       )
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(200)
       expect(messages.length).to.equal(1)
-      expect(messages[0].content).to.equal(this.content)
+      expect(messages[0].content).to.equal(content)
     })
   })
 
   describe('to a thread', async function () {
+    const projectId = ObjectId().toString()
+    const userId = ObjectId().toString()
+    const threadId = ObjectId().toString()
+    const content = 'thread message'
     before(async function () {
-      this.project_id = ObjectId().toString()
-      this.user_id = ObjectId().toString()
-      this.thread_id = ObjectId().toString()
-      this.content = 'thread message'
       const { response, body } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
-        this.project_id,
-        this.thread_id,
-        this.user_id,
-        this.content
+        projectId,
+        threadId,
+        userId,
+        content
       )
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(201)
-      expect(body.content).to.equal(this.content)
-      expect(body.user_id).to.equal(this.user_id)
-      expect(body.room_id).to.equal(this.project_id)
+      expect(body.content).to.equal(content)
+      expect(body.user_id).to.equal(userId)
+      expect(body.room_id).to.equal(projectId)
     })
 
     it('should then list the message in the threads', async function () {
-      const { response, body: threads } = await ChatClient.getThreads(
-        this.project_id
-      )
+      const { response, body: threads } = await ChatClient.getThreads(projectId)
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(200)
-      expect(threads[this.thread_id].messages.length).to.equal(1)
-      expect(threads[this.thread_id].messages[0].content).to.equal(this.content)
+      expect(threads[threadId].messages.length).to.equal(1)
+      expect(threads[threadId].messages[0].content).to.equal(content)
     })
 
     it('should not appear in the global messages', async function () {
       const { response, body: messages } = await ChatClient.getGlobalMessages(
-        this.project_id
+        projectId
       )
       expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(200)
       expect(messages.length).to.equal(0)
@@ -72,17 +70,15 @@ describe('Sending a message', async function () {
   })
 
   describe('failure cases', async function () {
-    before(async function () {
-      this.project_id = ObjectId().toString()
-      this.user_id = ObjectId().toString()
-      this.thread_id = ObjectId().toString()
-    })
+    const projectId = ObjectId().toString()
+    const userId = ObjectId().toString()
+    const threadId = ObjectId().toString()
 
-    describe('with a malformed user_id', async function () {
+    describe('with a malformed userId', async function () {
       it('should return a graceful error', async function () {
         const { response, body } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
-          this.project_id,
-          this.thread_id,
+          projectId,
+          threadId,
           'malformed-user',
           'content'
         )
@@ -91,12 +87,12 @@ describe('Sending a message', async function () {
       })
     })
 
-    describe('with a malformed project_id', async function () {
+    describe('with a malformed projectId', async function () {
       it('should return a graceful error', async function () {
         const { response, body } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
           'malformed-project',
-          this.thread_id,
-          this.user_id,
+          threadId,
+          userId,
           'content'
         )
         expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(400)
@@ -104,12 +100,12 @@ describe('Sending a message', async function () {
       })
     })
 
-    describe('with a malformed thread_id', async function () {
+    describe('with a malformed threadId', async function () {
       it('should return a graceful error', async function () {
         const { response, body } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
-          this.project_id,
+          projectId,
           'malformed-thread-id',
-          this.user_id,
+          userId,
           'content'
         )
         expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(400)
@@ -120,9 +116,9 @@ describe('Sending a message', async function () {
     describe('with no content', async function () {
       it('should return a graceful error', async function () {
         const { response, body } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
-          this.project_id,
-          this.thread_id,
-          this.user_id,
+          projectId,
+          threadId,
+          userId,
           null
         )
         expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(400)
@@ -134,9 +130,9 @@ describe('Sending a message', async function () {
       it('should return a graceful error', async function () {
         const content = '-'.repeat(10 * 1024 + 1)
         const { response, body } = await ChatClient.sendMessage(
-          this.project_id,
-          this.thread_id,
-          this.user_id,
+          projectId,
+          threadId,
+          userId,
           content
         )
         expect(response.statusCode).to.equal(400)