diff --git a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/util/Utils.java b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/util/Utils.java
index 99cd97dc25..aa07a06f9a 100644
--- a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/util/Utils.java
+++ b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/util/Utils.java
@@ -28,42 +28,50 @@ import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.internal.ReferenceTypeImpl;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.internal.TaskImpl.ErrorImpl;
 import org.xml.sax.Attributes;
 
+import com.google.common.collect.Maps;
+
 /**
  * 
  * @author Adrian Cole
  */
 public class Utils {
-   public static ReferenceType newNamedResource(Attributes attributes, String defaultType) {
-      String uri = attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex("href"));
-      String type = attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex("type"));
-      return new ReferenceTypeImpl(attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex("name")), type != null ? type : defaultType,
-               URI.create(uri));
+   public static ReferenceType newReferenceType(Map<String, String> attributes, String defaultType) {
+      String uri = attributes.get("href");
+      String type = attributes.get("type");
+      return new ReferenceTypeImpl(attributes.get("name"), type != null ? type : defaultType, URI.create(uri));
    }
 
-   public static ReferenceType newNamedResource(Attributes attributes) {
-      return newNamedResource(attributes, null);
+   public static Map<String, String> cleanseAttributes(Attributes in) {
+      Map<String, String> attrs = Maps.newLinkedHashMap();
+      for (int i = 0; i < in.getLength(); i++) {
+         String name = in.getQName(i);
+         if (name.indexOf(':') != -1)
+            name = name.substring(name.indexOf(':') + 1);
+         attrs.put(name, in.getValue(i));
+      }
+      return attrs;
    }
 
-   public static Task.Error newError(Attributes attributes) {
-      String minorErrorCode = attrOrNull(attributes, "minorErrorCode");
-      String vendorSpecificErrorCode = attrOrNull(attributes, "vendorSpecificErrorCode");
+   public static ReferenceType newReferenceType(Map<String, String> attributes) {
+      return newReferenceType(attributes, null);
+   }
+
+   public static Task.Error newError(Map<String, String> attributes) {
+      String minorErrorCode = attributes.get("minorErrorCode");
+      String vendorSpecificErrorCode = attributes.get("vendorSpecificErrorCode");
       int errorCode;
       // remove this logic when vcloud 0.8 is gone
       try {
-         errorCode = Integer.parseInt(attrOrNull(attributes, "majorErrorCode"));
+         errorCode = Integer.parseInt(attributes.get("majorErrorCode"));
       } catch (NumberFormatException e) {
          errorCode = 500;
-         vendorSpecificErrorCode = attrOrNull(attributes, "majorErrorCode");
+         vendorSpecificErrorCode = attributes.get("majorErrorCode");
       }
-      return new ErrorImpl(attrOrNull(attributes, "message"), errorCode, minorErrorCode, vendorSpecificErrorCode,
-               attrOrNull(attributes, "stackTrace"));
+      return new ErrorImpl(attributes.get("message"), errorCode, minorErrorCode, vendorSpecificErrorCode, attributes
+               .get("stackTrace"));
    }
 
-   public static String attrOrNull(Attributes attributes, String attr) {
-      return attributes.getIndex(attr) >= 0 ? attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex(attr)) : null;
-   }
-
-   public static void putNamedResource(Map<String, ReferenceType> map, Attributes attributes) {
-      map.put(attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex("name")), newNamedResource(attributes));
+   public static void putReferenceType(Map<String, ReferenceType> map, Map<String, String> attributes) {
+      map.put(attributes.get("name"), newReferenceType(attributes));
    }
 }
diff --git a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/CatalogHandler.java b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/CatalogHandler.java
index a4822604ea..aa478c5b73 100644
--- a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/CatalogHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/CatalogHandler.java
@@ -19,9 +19,12 @@
 
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.xml;
 
-import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newNamedResource;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newReferenceType;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.putReferenceType;
 
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.SortedMap;
 
 import javax.inject.Inject;
@@ -32,7 +35,6 @@ import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.Catalog;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.ReferenceType;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.Task;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.internal.CatalogImpl;
-import org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils;
 import org.xml.sax.Attributes;
 import org.xml.sax.SAXException;
 
@@ -62,20 +64,21 @@ public class CatalogHandler extends ParseSax.HandlerWithResult<Catalog> {
    private boolean published = true;
 
    public Catalog getResult() {
-      return new CatalogImpl(catalog.getName(), catalog.getType(), catalog.getHref(), org, description, contents, tasks,
-            published);
+      return new CatalogImpl(catalog.getName(), catalog.getType(), catalog.getHref(), org, description, contents,
+               tasks, published);
    }
 
    @Override
-   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
       if (qName.equals("Catalog")) {
-         catalog = Utils.newNamedResource(attributes, VCloudMediaType.CATALOG_XML);
+         catalog = newReferenceType(attributes, VCloudMediaType.CATALOG_XML);
       } else if (qName.equals("CatalogItem")) {
-         Utils.putNamedResource(contents, attributes);
-      } else if (qName.equals("Link") && "up".equals(Utils.attrOrNull(attributes, "rel"))) {
-         org = newNamedResource(attributes);
+         putReferenceType(contents, attributes);
+      } else if (qName.equals("Link") && "up".equals(attributes.get("rel"))) {
+         org = newReferenceType(attributes);
       } else {
-         taskHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attributes);
+         taskHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attrs);
       }
    }
 
diff --git a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/CatalogItemHandler.java b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/CatalogItemHandler.java
index 5cc470e6ee..4b077a8127 100644
--- a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/CatalogItemHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/CatalogItemHandler.java
@@ -19,13 +19,16 @@
 
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.xml;
 
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newReferenceType;
+
+import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.SortedMap;
 
 import org.jclouds.http.functions.ParseSax;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.CatalogItem;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.ReferenceType;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.internal.CatalogItemImpl;
-import org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils;
 import org.xml.sax.Attributes;
 import org.xml.sax.SAXException;
 
@@ -49,13 +52,14 @@ public class CatalogItemHandler extends ParseSax.HandlerWithResult<CatalogItem>
    }
 
    @Override
-   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
       if (qName.equals("CatalogItem")) {
-         catalogItem = Utils.newNamedResource(attributes);
+         catalogItem = newReferenceType(attributes);
       } else if (qName.equals("Entity")) {
-         entity = Utils.newNamedResource(attributes);
+         entity = newReferenceType(attributes);
       } else if (qName.equals("Property")) {
-         key = attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex("key"));
+         key = attributes.get("key");
       }
    }
 
diff --git a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/OrgHandler.java b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/OrgHandler.java
index 0feccf5be2..e81916f2f1 100644
--- a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/OrgHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/OrgHandler.java
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@
 
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.xml;
 
-import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newNamedResource;
-import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.putNamedResource;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newReferenceType;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.putReferenceType;
 
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
@@ -28,8 +29,8 @@ import java.util.Map;
 import javax.inject.Inject;
 
 import org.jclouds.http.functions.ParseSax;
-import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.ReferenceType;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.Org;
+import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.ReferenceType;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.Task;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.internal.OrgImpl;
 import org.xml.sax.Attributes;
@@ -68,24 +69,25 @@ public class OrgHandler extends ParseSax.HandlerWithResult<Org> {
    }
 
    @Override
-   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
       if (qName.equals("Org")) {
-         org = newNamedResource(attributes);
+         org = newReferenceType(attributes);
       } else if (qName.equals("Link")) {
-         int typeIndex = attributes.getIndex("type");
-         if (typeIndex != -1) {
-            if (attributes.getValue(typeIndex).indexOf("vdc+xml") != -1) {
-               putNamedResource(vdcs, attributes);
-            } else if (attributes.getValue(typeIndex).indexOf("catalog+xml") != -1) {
-               putNamedResource(catalogs, attributes);
-            } else if (attributes.getValue(typeIndex).indexOf("tasksList+xml") != -1) {
-               tasksList = newNamedResource(attributes);
-            } else if (attributes.getValue(typeIndex).indexOf("network+xml") != -1) {
-               putNamedResource(networks, attributes);
+         String type = attributes.get("type");
+         if (type != null) {
+            if (type.indexOf("vdc+xml") != -1) {
+               putReferenceType(vdcs, attributes);
+            } else if (type.indexOf("catalog+xml") != -1) {
+               putReferenceType(catalogs, attributes);
+            } else if (type.indexOf("tasksList+xml") != -1) {
+               tasksList = newReferenceType(attributes);
+            } else if (type.indexOf("network+xml") != -1) {
+               putReferenceType(networks, attributes);
             }
          }
       } else {
-         taskHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attributes);
+         taskHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attrs);
       }
 
    }
diff --git a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/OrgListHandler.java b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/OrgListHandler.java
index 5505663033..47b28735f6 100755
--- a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/OrgListHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/OrgListHandler.java
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@
 
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.xml;
 
-import static org.jclouds.vcloud.VCloudExpressMediaType.ORG_XML;
-import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.putNamedResource;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.putReferenceType;
 
 import java.util.Map;
 
@@ -34,25 +34,24 @@ import com.google.common.collect.Maps;
 /**
  * @author Adrian Cole
  */
-public class OrgListHandler extends
-		ParseSax.HandlerWithResult<Map<String, ReferenceType>> {
+public class OrgListHandler extends ParseSax.HandlerWithResult<Map<String, ReferenceType>> {
 
-	private Map<String, ReferenceType> org = Maps.newHashMap();
+   private Map<String, ReferenceType> org = Maps.newHashMap();
 
-	public Map<String, ReferenceType> getResult() {
-		return org;
-	}
+   public Map<String, ReferenceType> getResult() {
+      return org;
+   }
 
-	@Override
-	public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName,
-			Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
-		if (qName.equals("Org")) {
-			int typeIndex = attributes.getIndex("type");
-			if (typeIndex != -1) {
-				if (attributes.getValue(typeIndex).equals(ORG_XML)) {
-					putNamedResource(org, attributes);
-				}
-			}
-		}
-	}
+   @Override
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
+      if (qName.equals("Org")) {
+         String type = attributes.get("type");
+         if (type != null) {
+            if (type.indexOf("org+xml") != -1) {
+               putReferenceType(org, attributes);
+            }
+         }
+      }
+   }
 }
diff --git a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/OrgNetworkHandler.java b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/OrgNetworkHandler.java
index cbe0c743b3..ffbbb68145 100644
--- a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/OrgNetworkHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/OrgNetworkHandler.java
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@
 
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.xml;
 
-import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newNamedResource;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newReferenceType;
 
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
 
 import javax.inject.Inject;
@@ -49,7 +51,6 @@ import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.network.nat.NatType;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.network.nat.rules.OneToOneVmRule;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.network.nat.rules.PortForwardingRule;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.network.nat.rules.VmRule;
-import org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils;
 import org.xml.sax.Attributes;
 import org.xml.sax.SAXException;
 
@@ -142,22 +143,23 @@ public class OrgNetworkHandler extends ParseSax.HandlerWithResult<OrgNetwork> {
    }
 
    @Override
-   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
       if (qName.equals("OrgNetwork")) {
-         network = newNamedResource(attributes);
+         network = newReferenceType(attributes);
       } else if (qName.equals("FirewallRule")) {
          this.inFirewallRule = true;
       } else if (qName.equals("ParentNetwork")) {
-         parentNetwork = newNamedResource(attributes);
-      } else if (qName.equals("Link") && "up".equals(Utils.attrOrNull(attributes, "rel"))) {
-         org = newNamedResource(attributes);
+         parentNetwork = newReferenceType(attributes);
+      } else if (qName.equals("Link") && "up".equals(attributes.get("rel"))) {
+         org = newReferenceType(attributes);
       } else {
-         taskHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attributes);
+         taskHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attrs);
       }
-      int typeIndex = attributes.getIndex("type");
-      if (typeIndex != -1) {
-         if (attributes.getValue(typeIndex).indexOf("networkPool+xml") != -1) {
-            networkPool = newNamedResource(attributes);
+      String type = attributes.get("type");
+      if (type != null) {
+         if (type.indexOf("networkPool+xml") != -1) {
+            networkPool = newReferenceType(attributes);
          }
       }
    }
diff --git a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/TaskHandler.java b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/TaskHandler.java
index 078c76c95a..3182ffa1a9 100644
--- a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/TaskHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/TaskHandler.java
@@ -19,8 +19,11 @@
 
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.xml;
 
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+
 import java.text.ParseException;
 import java.util.Date;
+import java.util.Map;
 
 import javax.inject.Inject;
 
@@ -63,31 +66,30 @@ public class TaskHandler extends ParseSax.HandlerWithResult<Task> {
    }
 
    @Override
-   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
       if (qName.equalsIgnoreCase("Task")) {
-         if (attributes.getIndex("href") != -1)// queued tasks may not have an
+         if (attributes.get("href") != null)// queued tasks may not have an
             // href yet
-            taskLink = Utils.newNamedResource(attributes);
-         status = TaskStatus.fromValue(attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex("status")));
-         if (attributes.getIndex("startTime") != -1)
-            startTime = parseDate(attributes, "startTime");
-         if (attributes.getIndex("endTime") != -1)
-            endTime = parseDate(attributes, "endTime");
-         if (attributes.getIndex("expiryTime") != -1)
-            expiryTime = parseDate(attributes, "expiryTime");
+            taskLink = Utils.newReferenceType(attributes);
+         status = TaskStatus.fromValue(attributes.get("status"));
+         if (attributes.containsKey("startTime"))
+            startTime = parseDate(attributes.get("startTime"));
+         if (attributes.containsKey("endTime"))
+            endTime = parseDate(attributes.get("endTime"));
+         if (attributes.containsKey("expiryTime"))
+            expiryTime = parseDate(attributes.get("expiryTime"));
          // TODO technically the old Result object should only be owner for copy and delete tasks
       } else if (qName.equals("Owner") || qName.equals("Result")) {
-         owner = Utils.newNamedResource(attributes);
-      } else if (qName.equals("Link") && attributes.getIndex("rel") != -1
-               && attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex("rel")).equals("self")) {
-         taskLink = Utils.newNamedResource(attributes);
+         owner = Utils.newReferenceType(attributes);
+      } else if (qName.equals("Link") && "self".equals(attributes.get("rel"))) {
+         taskLink = Utils.newReferenceType(attributes);
       } else if (qName.equals("Error")) {
          error = Utils.newError(attributes);
       }
    }
 
-   private Date parseDate(Attributes attributes, String attribute) {
-      String toParse = attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex(attribute));
+   private Date parseDate(String toParse) {
       try {
          return dateService.iso8601DateParse(toParse);
       } catch (RuntimeException e) {
diff --git a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/TasksListHandler.java b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/TasksListHandler.java
index 5d1714bba0..3868fce28e 100644
--- a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/TasksListHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/TasksListHandler.java
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@
 
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.xml;
 
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+
+import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.SortedSet;
 
 import javax.inject.Inject;
@@ -53,14 +56,14 @@ public class TasksListHandler extends ParseSax.HandlerWithResult<TasksList> {
    }
 
    @Override
-   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
       if (qName.equals("TasksList")) {
-         resource = Utils.newNamedResource(attributes);
-      } else if (qName.equals("Link") && attributes.getIndex("rel") != -1
-            && attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex("rel")).equals("self")) {
-         resource = Utils.newNamedResource(attributes);
+         resource = Utils.newReferenceType(attributes);
+      } else if (qName.equals("Link") && "self".equals(attributes.get("rel"))) {
+         resource = Utils.newReferenceType(attributes);
       } else {
-         taskHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attributes);
+         taskHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attrs);
       }
    }
 
diff --git a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VAppHandler.java b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VAppHandler.java
index 5509c60985..a0ca0ac7a1 100644
--- a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VAppHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VAppHandler.java
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@
 
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.xml;
 
-import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newNamedResource;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newReferenceType;
 
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
 
 import javax.inject.Inject;
@@ -33,7 +35,6 @@ import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.Task;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.VApp;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.Vm;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.internal.VAppImpl;
-import org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils;
 import org.xml.sax.Attributes;
 import org.xml.sax.SAXException;
 
@@ -73,23 +74,23 @@ public class VAppHandler extends ParseSax.HandlerWithResult<VApp> {
    }
 
    @Override
-   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
       if (qName.equals("Children")) {
          inChildren = true;
       } else if (!inChildren && qName.equals("Tasks")) {
          inTasks = true;
       }
       if (inChildren) {
-         vmHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attributes);
+         vmHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attrs);
       } else if (inTasks) {
-         taskHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attributes);
+         taskHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attrs);
       } else if (qName.equals("VApp")) {
-         template = newNamedResource(attributes);
-         String status = Utils.attrOrNull(attributes, "status");
-         if (status != null)
-            this.status = Status.fromValue(Integer.parseInt(status));
-      } else if (qName.equals("Link") && "up".equals(Utils.attrOrNull(attributes, "rel"))) {
-         vdc = newNamedResource(attributes);
+         template = newReferenceType(attributes);
+         if (attributes.containsKey("status"))
+            this.status = Status.fromValue(Integer.parseInt(attributes.get("status")));
+      } else if (qName.equals("Link") && "up".equals(attributes.get("rel"))) {
+         vdc = newReferenceType(attributes);
       }
 
    }
diff --git a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VAppTemplateHandler.java b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VAppTemplateHandler.java
index 9d6b5ad61e..acb84e1285 100644
--- a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VAppTemplateHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VAppTemplateHandler.java
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@
 
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.xml;
 
-import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newNamedResource;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newReferenceType;
 
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
 
 import javax.inject.Inject;
@@ -33,7 +35,6 @@ import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.Task;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.VAppTemplate;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.Vm;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.internal.VAppTemplateImpl;
-import org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils;
 import org.xml.sax.Attributes;
 import org.xml.sax.SAXException;
 
@@ -74,23 +75,23 @@ public class VAppTemplateHandler extends ParseSax.HandlerWithResult<VAppTemplate
    }
 
    @Override
-   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
       if (qName.equals("Children")) {
          inChildren = true;
       } else if (!inChildren && qName.equals("Tasks")) {
          inTasks = true;
       }
       if (inChildren) {
-         vmHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attributes);
+         vmHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attrs);
       } else if (inTasks) {
-         taskHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attributes);
+         taskHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attrs);
       } else if (qName.equals("VAppTemplate")) {
-         template = newNamedResource(attributes);
-         String status = Utils.attrOrNull(attributes, "status");
-         if (status != null)
-            this.status = Status.fromValue(Integer.parseInt(status));
-      } else if (qName.equals("Link") && "up".equals(Utils.attrOrNull(attributes, "rel"))) {
-         vdc = newNamedResource(attributes);
+         template = newReferenceType(attributes);
+         if (attributes.containsKey("status"))
+            this.status = Status.fromValue(Integer.parseInt(attributes.get("status")));
+      } else if (qName.equals("Link") && "up".equals(attributes.get("rel"))) {
+         vdc = newReferenceType(attributes);
       }
 
    }
diff --git a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VCloudExpressNetworkHandler.java b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VCloudExpressNetworkHandler.java
index db1f4ef11d..45d58c39ca 100644
--- a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VCloudExpressNetworkHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VCloudExpressNetworkHandler.java
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@
 
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.xml;
 
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newReferenceType;
+
+import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
 
 import javax.annotation.Resource;
@@ -33,7 +37,6 @@ import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.network.firewall.FirewallRule;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.network.internal.VCloudExpressNetworkImpl;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.network.nat.NatProtocol;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.network.nat.rules.PortForwardingRule;
-import org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils;
 import org.xml.sax.Attributes;
 import org.xml.sax.SAXException;
 
@@ -76,9 +79,10 @@ public class VCloudExpressNetworkHandler extends ParseSax.HandlerWithResult<VClo
    }
 
    @Override
-   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
       if (qName.equals("Network")) {
-         network = Utils.newNamedResource(attributes);
+         network = newReferenceType(attributes);
       }
    }
 
diff --git a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VCloudExpressVAppHandler.java b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VCloudExpressVAppHandler.java
index b2ccfa831c..d30aca60bb 100644
--- a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VCloudExpressVAppHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VCloudExpressVAppHandler.java
@@ -20,8 +20,11 @@
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.xml;
 
 import static org.jclouds.Constants.PROPERTY_API_VERSION;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newReferenceType;
 
 import java.net.URI;
+import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
 
 import javax.annotation.Resource;
@@ -33,11 +36,10 @@ import org.jclouds.logging.Logger;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.VCloudExpressMediaType;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.ReferenceType;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.ResourceAllocation;
-import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.VCloudExpressVApp;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.Status;
+import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.VCloudExpressVApp;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.VirtualSystem;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.internal.VCloudExpressVAppImpl;
-import org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils;
 import org.xml.sax.Attributes;
 import org.xml.sax.SAXException;
 
@@ -78,37 +80,36 @@ public class VCloudExpressVAppHandler extends ParseSax.HandlerWithResult<VCloudE
    protected ReferenceType vDC;
 
    public VCloudExpressVApp getResult() {
-      return new VCloudExpressVAppImpl(name, location, status, size, vDC, networkToAddresses, osType, operatingSystemDescription,
-               system, allocations);
+      return new VCloudExpressVAppImpl(name, location, status, size, vDC, networkToAddresses, osType,
+               operatingSystemDescription, system, allocations);
    }
 
-   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
       if (qName.equals("VApp")) {
-         ReferenceType resource = Utils.newNamedResource(attributes);
+         ReferenceType resource = newReferenceType(attributes);
          name = resource.getName();
          location = resource.getHref();
-         String statusString = attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex("status"));
+         String statusString = attributes.get("status");
          if (apiVersion.indexOf("0.8") != -1 && "2".equals(statusString))
             status = Status.OFF;
          else
             status = Status.fromValue(statusString);
-         if (attributes.getIndex("size") != -1)
-            size = new Long(attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex("size")));
+         if (attributes.containsKey("size"))
+            size = new Long(attributes.get("size"));
       } else if (qName.equals("Link")) { // type should never be missing
-         if (attributes.getIndex("type") != -1
-                  && attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex("type")).equals(VCloudExpressMediaType.VDC_XML)) {
-            vDC = Utils.newNamedResource(attributes);
+         if (attributes.containsKey("type") && attributes.get("type").equals(VCloudExpressMediaType.VDC_XML)) {
+            vDC = newReferenceType(attributes);
          }
       } else if (qName.equals("OperatingSystemSection")) {
          inOs = true;
-         for (int i = 0; i < attributes.getLength(); i++)
-            if (attributes.getQName(i).indexOf("id") != -1)
-               osType = Integer.parseInt(attributes.getValue(i));
+         if (attributes.containsKey("id"))
+            osType = Integer.parseInt(attributes.get("id"));
       } else if (qName.endsWith("NetworkConnection")) {
-         networkName = attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex("Network"));
+         networkName = attributes.get("Network");
       } else {
-         systemHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attributes);
-         allocationHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attributes);
+         systemHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attrs);
+         allocationHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attrs);
       }
 
    }
diff --git a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VCloudExpressVAppTemplateHandler.java b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VCloudExpressVAppTemplateHandler.java
index aa425d7fe5..ab5b30614f 100644
--- a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VCloudExpressVAppTemplateHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VCloudExpressVAppTemplateHandler.java
@@ -19,12 +19,16 @@
 
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.xml;
 
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newReferenceType;
+
+import java.util.Map;
+
 import org.jclouds.http.functions.ParseSax;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.ReferenceType;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.Status;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.VCloudExpressVAppTemplate;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.internal.VCloudExpressVAppTemplateImpl;
-import org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils;
 import org.xml.sax.Attributes;
 import org.xml.sax.SAXException;
 
@@ -43,11 +47,12 @@ public class VCloudExpressVAppTemplateHandler extends ParseSax.HandlerWithResult
    }
 
    @Override
-   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
       if (qName.equals("VAppTemplate")) {
-         catalog = Utils.newNamedResource(attributes);
-         if (attributes.getIndex("status") != -1)
-            status = Status.fromValue(attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex("status")));
+         catalog = newReferenceType(attributes);
+         if (attributes.containsKey("status"))
+            status = Status.fromValue(attributes.get("status"));
       }
    }
 
diff --git a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VDCHandler.java b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VDCHandler.java
index cf18473389..dfb5c83a39 100644
--- a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VDCHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VDCHandler.java
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@
 
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.xml;
 
-import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newNamedResource;
-import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.putNamedResource;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newReferenceType;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.putReferenceType;
 
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
@@ -35,7 +36,6 @@ import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.Task;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.VDC;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.VDCStatus;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.internal.VDCImpl;
-import org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils;
 import org.xml.sax.Attributes;
 import org.xml.sax.SAXException;
 
@@ -96,20 +96,21 @@ public class VDCHandler extends ParseSax.HandlerWithResult<VDC> {
    }
 
    @Override
-   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
       if (qName.equals("Vdc")) {
-         vDC = newNamedResource(attributes);
-         String status = Utils.attrOrNull(attributes, "status");
+         vDC = newReferenceType(attributes);
+         String status = attributes.get("status");
          if (status != null)
             this.status = VDCStatus.fromValue(Integer.parseInt(status));
       } else if (qName.equals("Network")) {
-         putNamedResource(availableNetworks, attributes);
+         putReferenceType(availableNetworks, attributes);
       } else if (qName.equals("ResourceEntity")) {
-         putNamedResource(resourceEntities, attributes);
-      } else if (qName.equals("Link") && "up".equals(Utils.attrOrNull(attributes, "rel"))) {
-         org = newNamedResource(attributes);
+         putReferenceType(resourceEntities, attributes);
+      } else if (qName.equals("Link") && "up".equals(attributes.get("rel"))) {
+         org = newReferenceType(attributes);
       } else {
-         taskHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attributes);
+         taskHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attrs);
       }
 
    }
diff --git a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VmHandler.java b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VmHandler.java
index 4f67ee886e..08acfca0ef 100644
--- a/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VmHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/xml/VmHandler.java
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@
 
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.xml;
 
-import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newNamedResource;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newReferenceType;
 
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
 
 import javax.inject.Inject;
 
@@ -31,7 +33,6 @@ import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.Status;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.Task;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.Vm;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.internal.VmImpl;
-import org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils;
 import org.xml.sax.Attributes;
 import org.xml.sax.SAXException;
 
@@ -65,19 +66,20 @@ public class VmHandler extends ParseSax.HandlerWithResult<Vm> {
    }
 
    @Override
-   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
       if (qName.equals("Tasks")) {
          inTasks = true;
       }
       if (inTasks) {
-         taskHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attributes);
+         taskHandler.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attrs);
       } else if (qName.equals("Vm")) {
-         vm = newNamedResource(attributes);
-         String status = Utils.attrOrNull(attributes, "status");
+         vm = newReferenceType(attributes);
+         String status = attributes.get("status");
          if (status != null)
             this.status = Status.fromValue(Integer.parseInt(status));
-      } else if (qName.equals("Link") && "up".equals(Utils.attrOrNull(attributes, "rel"))) {
-         vdc = newNamedResource(attributes);
+      } else if (qName.equals("Link") && "up".equals(attributes.get("rel"))) {
+         vdc = newReferenceType(attributes);
       }
    }
 
diff --git a/vcloud/terremark/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/terremark/xml/TerremarkCatalogItemHandler.java b/vcloud/terremark/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/terremark/xml/TerremarkCatalogItemHandler.java
index b32ddf6722..48c278828b 100644
--- a/vcloud/terremark/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/terremark/xml/TerremarkCatalogItemHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/terremark/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/terremark/xml/TerremarkCatalogItemHandler.java
@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@
 
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.terremark.xml;
 
-import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newNamedResource;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newReferenceType;
+
+import java.util.Map;
 
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.domain.ReferenceType;
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.terremark.domain.TerremarkCatalogItem;
@@ -37,20 +40,20 @@ public class TerremarkCatalogItemHandler extends CatalogItemHandler {
    private ReferenceType computeOptions;
 
    public TerremarkCatalogItem getResult() {
-      return new TerremarkCatalogItemImpl(catalogItem.getName(), catalogItem.getHref(), description,
-            computeOptions, customizationOptions, entity, properties);
+      return new TerremarkCatalogItemImpl(catalogItem.getName(), catalogItem.getHref(), description, computeOptions,
+               customizationOptions, entity, properties);
    }
 
    @Override
-   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
-      super.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attributes);
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
+      super.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attrs);
       if (qName.equals("Link")) {
-         int nameIndex = attributes.getIndex("name");
-         if (nameIndex != -1) {
-            if (attributes.getValue(nameIndex).equals("Customization Options")) {
-               customizationOptions = newNamedResource(attributes);
-            } else if (attributes.getValue(nameIndex).equals("Compute Options")) {
-               computeOptions = newNamedResource(attributes);
+         if (attributes.containsKey("name")) {
+            if (attributes.get("name").equals("Customization Options")) {
+               customizationOptions = newReferenceType(attributes);
+            } else if (attributes.get("name").equals("Compute Options")) {
+               computeOptions = newReferenceType(attributes);
             }
          }
 
diff --git a/vcloud/terremark/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/terremark/xml/TerremarkOrgHandler.java b/vcloud/terremark/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/terremark/xml/TerremarkOrgHandler.java
index 392c0438d1..4c95f23c93 100644
--- a/vcloud/terremark/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/terremark/xml/TerremarkOrgHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/terremark/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/terremark/xml/TerremarkOrgHandler.java
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.terremark.xml;
 
 import static org.jclouds.vcloud.terremark.TerremarkVCloudExpressMediaType.KEYSLIST_XML;
-import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newNamedResource;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.newReferenceType;
+
+import java.util.Map;
 
 import javax.inject.Inject;
 
@@ -49,13 +52,13 @@ public class TerremarkOrgHandler extends OrgHandler {
    }
 
    @Override
-   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
-      super.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attributes);
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
+      super.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attrs);
       if (qName.equals("Link")) {
-         int typeIndex = attributes.getIndex("type");
-         if (typeIndex != -1) {
-            if (attributes.getValue(typeIndex).equals(KEYSLIST_XML)) {
-               keysList = newNamedResource(attributes);
+         if (attributes.containsKey("type")) {
+            if (attributes.get("type").equals(KEYSLIST_XML)) {
+               keysList = newReferenceType(attributes);
             }
          }
       }
diff --git a/vcloud/terremark/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/terremark/xml/TerremarkVDCHandler.java b/vcloud/terremark/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/terremark/xml/TerremarkVDCHandler.java
index 06b7626605..85f05ce5a4 100644
--- a/vcloud/terremark/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/terremark/xml/TerremarkVDCHandler.java
+++ b/vcloud/terremark/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/terremark/xml/TerremarkVDCHandler.java
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@
 
 package org.jclouds.vcloud.terremark.xml;
 
+import static org.jclouds.vcloud.util.Utils.cleanseAttributes;
+
+import java.util.Map;
+
 import javax.inject.Inject;
 
 import org.jclouds.vcloud.VCloudExpressMediaType;
@@ -54,18 +58,19 @@ public class TerremarkVDCHandler extends VDCHandler {
    }
 
    @Override
-   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attributes) throws SAXException {
-      super.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attributes);
+   public void startElement(String uri, String localName, String qName, Attributes attrs) throws SAXException {
+      Map<String, String> attributes = cleanseAttributes(attrs);
+      super.startElement(uri, localName, qName, attrs);
       if (qName.equals("Link")) {
-         String name = attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex("name"));
+         String name = attributes.get("name");
          if (name.equals("Internet Services")) {
-            internetServices = Utils.newNamedResource(attributes);
+            internetServices = Utils.newReferenceType(attributes);
          } else if (name.equals("Public IPs")) {
-            publicIps = Utils.newNamedResource(attributes);
+            publicIps = Utils.newReferenceType(attributes);
          } else {
-            String type = attributes.getValue(attributes.getIndex("type"));
+            String type = attributes.get("type");
             if (type.equals(VCloudExpressMediaType.CATALOG_XML)) {
-               catalog = Utils.newNamedResource(attributes);
+               catalog = Utils.newReferenceType(attributes);
             }
          }
       }