diff --git a/lib/devise_suspendable/model.rb b/lib/devise_suspendable/model.rb
index 8855a02..2cdd1ae 100644
--- a/lib/devise_suspendable/model.rb
+++ b/lib/devise_suspendable/model.rb
@@ -7,17 +7,40 @@ module Models
     #    User.find(1).suspend!('Left the company')
     #
     module Suspendable
+      def self.included(base)
+        base.class_eval do
+          validates_length_of :suspension_reason, :maximum => 250
+
+          # basic sanitization
+          before_validation do |acc|
+            acc.suspension_reason.strip! if acc.suspension_reason
+            acc.suspension_reason = nil  if acc.suspension_reason.blank?
+            acc.suspension_reason = nil  if acc.suspended_at.blank?
+          end
+        end
+      end
 
       def suspended?
         self.suspended_at?
       end
 
       def suspend!(reason = nil)
-        return if
+        return if suspended?
+        self.suspended_at = Time.zone.now
+        self.suspension_reason = reason
+        self.save(:validate = false)
       end
 
       def unsuspend!
+        return if !suspended?
+        self.suspended_at = nil
+        self.suspension_reason = nil
+        self.save(:validate = false) if self.changed?
+      end
 
+      # override Activatable
+      def active?
+        super && suspended?
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/lib/devise_suspendable/schema.rb b/lib/devise_suspendable/schema.rb
index c1bfe79..adb58e2 100644
--- a/lib/devise_suspendable/schema.rb
+++ b/lib/devise_suspendable/schema.rb
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
     # Creates suspended_at and suspension_reason
     def suspendable
-      apply_schema :suspended_at,      Time,   :null => true
-      apply_schema :suspension_reason, String, :null => true
+      apply_schema :suspended_at,      DateTime,  :null => true, :default => nil
+      apply_schema :suspension_reason, String,    :null => true, :default => nil
     end
 
 end
\ No newline at end of file