diff --git a/rhodecode/model/db.py b/rhodecode/model/db.py
--- a/rhodecode/model/db.py
+++ b/rhodecode/model/db.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import traceback
 from datetime import date
 
 from sqlalchemy import *
+from sqlalchemy.exc import DatabaseError
 from sqlalchemy.ext.hybrid import hybrid_property
 from sqlalchemy.orm import relationship, joinedload, class_mapper, validates
 from beaker.cache import cache_region, region_invalidate
@@ -322,26 +323,6 @@ class User(Base, BaseModel):
         Session.commit()
         log.debug('updated user %s lastlogin', self.username)
 
-    @classmethod
-    def create(cls, form_data):
-        from rhodecode.lib.auth import get_crypt_password
-
-        try:
-            new_user = cls()
-            for k, v in form_data.items():
-                if k == 'password':
-                    v = get_crypt_password(v)
-                setattr(new_user, k, v)
-
-            new_user.api_key = generate_api_key(form_data['username'])
-            Session.add(new_user)
-            Session.commit()
-            return new_user
-        except:
-            log.error(traceback.format_exc())
-            Session.rollback()
-            raise
-
 class UserLog(Base, BaseModel):
     __tablename__ = 'user_logs'
     __table_args__ = {'extend_existing':True}