diff --git a/src/main/javascript/ts/src/view/ChatView.ts b/src/main/javascript/ts/src/view/ChatView.ts
index 0a7f184..3bb8fd2 100644
--- a/src/main/javascript/ts/src/view/ChatView.ts
+++ b/src/main/javascript/ts/src/view/ChatView.ts
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ export class ChatView implements Observer<ChatMessageViewModel> {
     const msgTime = new Date();
     const context: ChatMessageViewModel = {
       fromUser: JsonAPI.principleName,
-      toUser: "",
+      toUser: contactName,
       message: messageContent,
       messageTime: msgTime,
     };
@@ -192,12 +192,12 @@ export class ChatView implements Observer<ChatMessageViewModel> {
       fromUser: JsonAPI.principleName,
       toUser: contactName,
       messageCipher: messageCipher,
-      messageTime: msgTime,
+      messageTime: msgTime.toISOString(),
     };
     this._sendMessageAJAX(chatMessageDTO);
   }
 
-  private _sendMessageAJAX(chatMessageDTO: ChatMessageDTO): void {
+  private _sendMessageAJAX(chatMessageDTO: any): void {
     let headers = new Headers();
     //	console.log("Token = " + btoa("hmm" + ":" + "hmm"))
 
diff --git a/src/main/javascript/ts/src/view/UserView.ts b/src/main/javascript/ts/src/view/UserView.ts
index 1398b5a..483a58a 100644
--- a/src/main/javascript/ts/src/view/UserView.ts
+++ b/src/main/javascript/ts/src/view/UserView.ts
@@ -165,17 +165,22 @@ export class UserView implements Observer<ActiveUserViewModel> {
       e.preventDefault();
       // log.trace(temp);
       const searchTerm = this._userSearchInputElement.value;
-      log.debug("search term value = " + searchTerm);
-      const list = this._model.activeUsersList;
-      log.debug("active users");
-      log.debug(list);
-      if (list == null) {
-        log.error("Users list is null");
-        return;
+      if (searchTerm.length > 0) {
+        log.debug("search term value = " + searchTerm);
+        const list = this._model.activeUsersList;
+        log.debug("active users");
+        log.debug(list);
+        if (!list) {
+          log.error("Users list is null");
+          return;
+        }
+        let searchResult = this._searchService.search(list, searchTerm);
+        this.update({ data: searchResult, op: "" });
+        log.debug(searchResult);
+      }
+      else {
+        this._notificationService.error("Please enter a name")
       }
-      let searchResult = this._searchService.search(list, searchTerm);
-      this.update({ data: searchResult, op: "" });
-      log.debug(searchResult);
     });
   }
 
@@ -183,7 +188,6 @@ export class UserView implements Observer<ActiveUserViewModel> {
     this._userSearchInputElement.addEventListener("input", (e) => {
       e.preventDefault();
       if (this._userSearchInputElement.value.length < 2) {
-        log.debug("inputted");
         this._userSearchCancelButton.hidden = false;
       }
     });