diff --git a/carelink.js b/carelink.js
index db41bb5..4b5a9e0 100644
--- a/carelink.js
+++ b/carelink.js
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ var Client = exports.Client = function (options) {
       CARELINK_SECURITY_URL,
       reqOptions({
         jar: jar,
-        qs: {j_username: options.username, j_password: options.password}
+        form: {j_username: options.username, j_password: options.password, j_character_encoding: "UTF-8"}
       }),
       checkResponseThen(next)
     );