diff --git a/lib/vault/encrypted_model.rb b/lib/vault/encrypted_model.rb
index aea98b9f..c11e47d0 100644
--- a/lib/vault/encrypted_model.rb
+++ b/lib/vault/encrypted_model.rb
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def vault_attribute(attribute_name, options = {})
           serializer.define_singleton_method(:decode, &options[:decode])
         end
 
-        attribute_type = options.fetch(:type, :value)
+        attribute_type = options.fetch(:type, :string)
 
         if attribute_type.is_a?(Symbol)
           constant_name = attribute_type.to_s.camelize
diff --git a/spec/dummy/app/models/eager_person.rb b/spec/dummy/app/models/eager_person.rb
index 2cb5b450..566ded28 100644
--- a/spec/dummy/app/models/eager_person.rb
+++ b/spec/dummy/app/models/eager_person.rb
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ class EagerPerson < ActiveRecord::Base
     key: "people_credit_cards"
 
   vault_attribute :details,
+    type: :value,
     serialize: :json
 
   vault_attribute :business_card,
diff --git a/spec/dummy/app/models/lazy_person.rb b/spec/dummy/app/models/lazy_person.rb
index 51c6f3b3..ca216c88 100644
--- a/spec/dummy/app/models/lazy_person.rb
+++ b/spec/dummy/app/models/lazy_person.rb
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ class LazyPerson < ActiveRecord::Base
     key: "people_credit_cards"
 
   vault_attribute :details,
+    type: :value,
     serialize: :json
 
   vault_attribute :business_card,
diff --git a/spec/dummy/app/models/person.rb b/spec/dummy/app/models/person.rb
index 1324df9b..498aefff 100644
--- a/spec/dummy/app/models/person.rb
+++ b/spec/dummy/app/models/person.rb
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ class Person < ActiveRecord::Base
     key: "people_credit_cards"
 
   vault_attribute :details,
+    type: :value,
     serialize: :json
 
   vault_attribute :business_card,