i hope this fixed it

components/dashboard/NewChatForm.tsx

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import axios from "axios";
 import { toast } from "sonner";
 import { getCookie } from "@/lib/client-utils";
 import debounce from "lodash/debounce";
+import { clientFetch } from "@/lib/client-utils";
 
 interface User {
   telegramUserId: string;
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ export default function NewChatForm() {
   const [vendorStores, setVendorStores] = useState<{ _id: string, name: string }[]>([]);
   const [selectedStore, setSelectedStore] = useState<string>("");
   const [selectedUser, setSelectedUser] = useState<User | null>(null);
+  const [isSubmitting, setIsSubmitting] = useState(false);
   
   // Create an axios instance with auth
   const getAuthAxios = () => {
@@ -81,24 +83,47 @@ export default function NewChatForm() {
     }
   };
 
-  // Debounced search function
-  const searchUsers = debounce(async (query: string) => {
-    if (!query.trim() || !vendorStores[0]?._id) return;
-
-    const authAxios = getAuthAxios();
-    if (!authAxios) return;
-
+  // Check if a chat already exists with this user
+  const checkExistingChat = async (userId: string) => {
     try {
-      setSearching(true);
-      const response = await authAxios.get(`/chats/search/users?query=${encodeURIComponent(query)}&storeId=${vendorStores[0]._id}`);
-      setSearchResults(response.data);
+      // Use clientFetch instead of direct axios calls
+      const response = await clientFetch(`/chats/user/${userId}`);
+      
+      // If a chat is found, redirect to it
+      if (response && Array.isArray(response) && response.length > 0) {
+        toast.info("Chat already exists, redirecting...");
+        router.push(`/dashboard/chats/${response[0]._id}`);
+        return true;
+      }
+      return false;
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error("Error checking existing chat:", error);
+      return false;
+    }
+  };
+
+  // Search for users by Telegram username or ID
+  const searchUsers = async (query: string) => {
+    setSearching(true);
+    
+    try {
+      if (!query || query.length < 2) {
+        setSearchResults([]);
+        return;
+      }
+      
+      // Use clientFetch instead of direct axios calls
+      const response = await clientFetch(`/chats/search/users?query=${encodeURIComponent(query)}&storeId=${vendorStores[0]._id}`);
+      
+      setSearchResults(response || []);
     } catch (error) {
       console.error("Error searching users:", error);
-      toast.error("Failed to search users");
+      toast.error("Failed to search for users");
+      setSearchResults([]);
     } finally {
       setSearching(false);
     }
-  }, 300);
+  };
 
   // Handle search input change
   const handleSearchChange = (value: string) => {
@@ -176,54 +201,71 @@ export default function NewChatForm() {
     router.push("/dashboard/chats");
   };
   
-  const handleSubmit = async (e: React.FormEvent) => {
-    e.preventDefault();
+  // Create a new chat with the selected user
+  const createChat = async (e?: React.FormEvent) => {
+    if (e) e.preventDefault();
     
-    if (!buyerId) {
-      toast.error("Please select a customer");
+    if (!selectedUser) {
+      toast.error("Please select a user first");
       return;
     }
     
-    if (vendorStores.length === 0) {
-      toast.error("No store available. Please create a store first.");
-      return;
-    }
+    setIsSubmitting(true);
     
-    const storeId = vendorStores[0]._id;
-    
-    setLoading(true);
     try {
-      const authAxios = getAuthAxios();
-      if (!authAxios) {
-        toast.error("You need to be logged in");
-        router.push("/auth/login");
+      // Check for existing chat first
+      const chatExists = await checkExistingChat(selectedUser.telegramUserId);
+      if (chatExists) {
+        setIsSubmitting(false);
         return;
       }
       
-      const response = await authAxios.post("/chats/create", {
-        buyerId,
-        storeId: storeId,
-        initialMessage: initialMessage.trim() || undefined
+      // Get current vendor info
+      // Use clientFetch instead of direct axios calls
+      const vendorResponse = await clientFetch('/auth/me');
+      const vendorId = vendorResponse.vendor?._id;
+      
+      if (!vendorId) {
+        toast.error("Vendor ID not found");
+        return;
+      }
+      
+      // Get store ID from the current vendor
+      // Use clientFetch instead of direct axios calls
+      const storeResponse = await clientFetch(`/storefront`);
+      const storeId = storeResponse?.store?._id;
+      
+      if (!storeId) {
+        toast.error("Store ID not found");
+        return;
+      }
+      
+      // Create chat data object
+      const chatData = {
+        buyerId: selectedUser.telegramUserId,
+        vendorId,
+        storeId,
+        initialMessage: initialMessage.trim() || "Hello! How can I help you today?",
+      };
+      
+      // Create the chat
+      // Use clientFetch instead of direct axios calls
+      const response = await clientFetch('/chats', {
+        method: 'POST',
+        body: JSON.stringify(chatData),
       });
       
-      if (response.data.chatId) {
-        toast.success("Chat created successfully!");
-        router.push(`/dashboard/chats/${response.data.chatId}`);
-      } else if (response.data.error === "Chat already exists") {
-        toast.info("Chat already exists, redirecting...");
-        router.push(`/dashboard/chats/${response.data.chatId}`);
-      }
-    } catch (error: any) {
-      console.error("Error creating chat:", error);
-      
-      if (error.response?.status === 409) {
-        toast.info("Chat already exists, redirecting...");
-        router.push(`/dashboard/chats/${error.response.data.chatId}`);
+      if (response && response._id) {
+        toast.success("Chat created successfully");
+        router.push(`/dashboard/chats/${response._id}`);
       } else {
         toast.error("Failed to create chat");
       }
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error("Error creating chat:", error);
+      toast.error("Failed to create chat");
     } finally {
-      setLoading(false);
+      setIsSubmitting(false);
     }
   };
   
@@ -242,7 +284,7 @@ export default function NewChatForm() {
       </CardHeader>
       
       <CardContent>
-        <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} className="space-y-6">
+        <form onSubmit={(e) => createChat(e)} className="space-y-6">
           <div className="space-y-2">
             <Label htmlFor="buyerId">Customer Telegram ID or Username</Label>
             <div className="relative">