diff --git a/dbHandler.go b/dbHandler.go
index 9547300..303a378 100644
--- a/dbHandler.go
+++ b/dbHandler.go
@@ -245,7 +245,9 @@ func (dH *DBHandler) DeleteById(model any, ids ...uint) error {
 	}
 
 	dH.logger.Debug("deleteById", "delete ids "+fmt.Sprint(ids))
-	err := dH.Exists(model, "id", ids, false)
+	if !dH.Exists(model, "id", ids, false) {
+		return errors.New("no matching id(s) found")
+	}
 
 	// Always use Model() to avoid GORM’s “limit 1” safeguard
 	if err := dH.db.Model(model).Where("id IN ?", ids).Delete(nil).Error; err != nil {
@@ -283,26 +285,7 @@ func (dH *DBHandler) DeleteByKey(model any, key string, value any, LikeSearch bo
 	return dH.db.Where(key+" = ?", value).Delete(model).Error
 }
 
-// exists
-//
-// Description:
-//
-//	Checks whether a record exists matching the specified key/value filter.
-//
-// Behavior:
-//   - Performs a `First` query on the database.
-//   - If `LikeSearch` is true, performs a LIKE query.
-//   - Returns an error if the record does not exist or query fails.
-//
-// Parameters:
-//   - model:      Model struct type to search.
-//   - key:        Column name to filter by.
-//   - value:      Value to match.
-//   - LikeSearch: Whether to use wildcard search.
-//
-// Returns:
-//   - error: “no record found” or DB error.
-func (dH *DBHandler) Exists(model any, key string, value any, likeSearch bool) error {
+func (dH *DBHandler) Exists(model any, key string, value any, likeSearch bool) (found bool) {
 	var query string
 	var args any
 
@@ -313,7 +296,8 @@ func (dH *DBHandler) Exists(model any, key string, value any, likeSearch bool) e
 	switch {
 	case isSlice:
 		if val.Len() == 0 {
-			return fmt.Errorf("empty slice for %s", key)
+			dH.logger.Error("Exists", fmt.Sprintf("empty slice for %s", key))
+			return false
 		}
 		query = fmt.Sprintf("%s IN ?", key)
 		args = value
@@ -330,15 +314,16 @@ func (dH *DBHandler) Exists(model any, key string, value any, likeSearch bool) e
 
 	dH.logger.Debug("exists", "checking existence for key "+query+" value "+fmt.Sprint(args))
 
-	var count int64
-	tx := dH.db.Model(model).Where(query, args).Count(&count)
+	t := reflect.TypeOf(model)
+	if t.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+		t = t.Elem()
+	}
+
+	tx := dH.db.Where(query, args).Find(model)
+
 	if tx.Error != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("query failed: %w", tx.Error)
+		dH.logger.Error("Exists", fmt.Sprintf("query failed: %w", tx.Error))
+		return false
 	}
-
-	if count == 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("no record found for %s %v", key, value)
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return tx.RowsAffected > 0
 }