diff --git a/lib/actions/auth.ts b/lib/actions/auth.ts
index ce85bb7..06c2d54 100644
--- a/lib/actions/auth.ts
+++ b/lib/actions/auth.ts
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ export interface ContactFormResponse {
 }
 
 /**
- * Submit contact form
+ * Submit contact form (public endpoint - no authentication required)
  */
 export async function submitContactForm(
   data: ContactFormInput
@@ -462,18 +462,34 @@ export async function submitContactForm(
       method: "POST",
       headers: {
         "Content-Type": "application/json",
+        "Accept": "application/json",
       },
       body: JSON.stringify({
-        name: data.name,
-        email: data.email,
-        phone: data.phone,
-        message: data.message,
+        name: data.name.trim(),
+        email: data.email.trim().toLowerCase(),
+        phone: data.phone.trim(),
+        message: data.message.trim(),
       }),
     });
 
-    const responseData = await response.json();
+    // Handle empty responses
+    const contentType = response.headers.get("content-type");
+    let responseData: any;
+    
+    if (contentType && contentType.includes("application/json")) {
+      const text = await response.text();
+      responseData = text ? JSON.parse(text) : {};
+    } else {
+      const text = await response.text();
+      responseData = text ? { message: text } : {};
+    }
 
     if (!response.ok) {
+      // Check for authentication error specifically
+      if (response.status === 401 || response.status === 403) {
+        throw new Error("Contact form submission requires authentication. Please contact support if this is a public form.");
+      }
+      
       const error: ApiError = responseData;
       throw new Error(extractErrorMessage(error));
     }
@@ -483,7 +499,7 @@ export async function submitContactForm(
     if (error instanceof Error) {
       throw error;
     }
-    throw new Error("Failed to submit contact form");
+    throw new Error("Failed to submit contact form. Please try again later.");
   }
 }