diff --git a/telegram/audio.py b/telegram/audio.py
index ff54b339d..30342b7e0 100644
--- a/telegram/audio.py
+++ b/telegram/audio.py
@@ -49,12 +49,12 @@ class Audio(TelegramObject):
                  duration,
                  **kwargs):
         # Required
-        self.file_id = file_id
+        self.file_id = str(file_id)
         self.duration = int(duration)
         # Optionals
-        self.performer = kwargs.get('performer', '')
-        self.title = kwargs.get('title', '')
-        self.mime_type = kwargs.get('mime_type', '')
+        self.performer = str(kwargs.get('performer', ''))
+        self.title = str(kwargs.get('title', ''))
+        self.mime_type = str(kwargs.get('mime_type', ''))
         self.file_size = int(kwargs.get('file_size', 0))
 
     @staticmethod
diff --git a/telegram/contact.py b/telegram/contact.py
index e26d755c3..3b9e2b104 100644
--- a/telegram/contact.py
+++ b/telegram/contact.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class Contact(TelegramObject):
                  first_name,
                  **kwargs):
         # Required
-        self.phone_number = phone_number
+        self.phone_number = str(phone_number)
         self.first_name = first_name
         # Optionals
         self.last_name = kwargs.get('last_name', '')
diff --git a/telegram/document.py b/telegram/document.py
index 31dbeab0b..ff017ceae 100644
--- a/telegram/document.py
+++ b/telegram/document.py
@@ -46,11 +46,11 @@ class Document(TelegramObject):
                  file_id,
                  **kwargs):
         # Required
-        self.file_id = file_id
+        self.file_id = str(file_id)
         # Optionals
         self.thumb = kwargs.get('thumb')
-        self.file_name = kwargs.get('file_name', '')
-        self.mime_type = kwargs.get('mime_type', '')
+        self.file_name = str(kwargs.get('file_name', ''))
+        self.mime_type = str(kwargs.get('mime_type', ''))
         self.file_size = int(kwargs.get('file_size', 0))
 
     @staticmethod
diff --git a/telegram/error.py b/telegram/error.py
index b19b3f905..fdbc00319 100644
--- a/telegram/error.py
+++ b/telegram/error.py
@@ -22,10 +22,14 @@
 class TelegramError(Exception):
     """This object represents a Telegram Error."""
 
-    @property
-    def message(self):
+    def __init__(self, message):
         """
         Returns:
             str:
         """
-        return self.args[0]
+        super(TelegramError, self).__init__()
+
+        self.message = message.split(':')[-1].strip().capitalize()
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        return '%s' % (self.message)
diff --git a/telegram/sticker.py b/telegram/sticker.py
index 35bc01674..06089e358 100644
--- a/telegram/sticker.py
+++ b/telegram/sticker.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class Sticker(TelegramObject):
                  height,
                  **kwargs):
         # Required
-        self.file_id = file_id
+        self.file_id = str(file_id)
         self.width = int(width)
         self.height = int(height)
         # Optionals
diff --git a/telegram/update.py b/telegram/update.py
index 83e068593..3bccc7d20 100644
--- a/telegram/update.py
+++ b/telegram/update.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class Update(TelegramObject):
                  update_id,
                  **kwargs):
         # Required
-        self.update_id = update_id
+        self.update_id = int(update_id)
         # Optionals
         self.message = kwargs.get('message')
 
diff --git a/telegram/video.py b/telegram/video.py
index b10dd475f..d69306337 100644
--- a/telegram/video.py
+++ b/telegram/video.py
@@ -53,13 +53,13 @@ class Video(TelegramObject):
                  duration,
                  **kwargs):
         # Required
-        self.file_id = file_id
+        self.file_id = str(file_id)
         self.width = int(width)
         self.height = int(height)
         self.duration = int(duration)
         # Optionals
         self.thumb = kwargs.get('thumb')
-        self.mime_type = kwargs.get('mime_type', '')
+        self.mime_type = str(kwargs.get('mime_type', ''))
         self.file_size = int(kwargs.get('file_size', 0))
 
     @staticmethod
diff --git a/telegram/voice.py b/telegram/voice.py
index 96f3fa5f1..53dcdc440 100644
--- a/telegram/voice.py
+++ b/telegram/voice.py
@@ -44,10 +44,10 @@ class Voice(TelegramObject):
                  file_id,
                  **kwargs):
         # Required
-        self.file_id = file_id
+        self.file_id = str(file_id)
         # Optionals
         self.duration = int(kwargs.get('duration', 0))
-        self.mime_type = kwargs.get('mime_type', '')
+        self.mime_type = str(kwargs.get('mime_type', ''))
         self.file_size = int(kwargs.get('file_size', 0))
 
     @staticmethod