diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 767da86..7b56828 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "queuenorth-website",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "0.5.7",
+  "version": "0.6.0",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "concurrently \"vite\" \"node server/index.js\"",
diff --git a/server/index.js b/server/index.js
index a4efc63..14d95aa 100644
--- a/server/index.js
+++ b/server/index.js
@@ -38,7 +38,14 @@ const log = {
 
 // --- Rate Limiting ---
 const rateLimitWindowMs = 60 * 1000 // 1 minute
-const rateLimitMax = parseInt(process.env.RATE_LIMIT_PER_MINUTE || '5', 10)
+const rateLimitMax = (() => {
+  const val = parseInt(process.env.RATE_LIMIT_PER_MINUTE || '5', 10)
+  if (isNaN(val) || val < 1) {
+    log.warn('[RateLimit] Invalid RATE_LIMIT_PER_MINUTE, defaulting to 5')
+    return 5
+  }
+  return val
+})()
 
 const apiLimiter = rateLimit({
   windowMs: rateLimitWindowMs,
@@ -103,8 +110,7 @@ const corsConfig = cors({
 app.use(corsConfig)
 log.info(`[CORS] Enabled with origin: ${corsOrigin}`)
 
-// Middleware
-app.use(express.json({ limit: '1mb' }))
+// Middleware — JSON body parsing only on POST routes (issue #14)
 app.use(express.urlencoded({ extended: true, limit: '1mb' }))
 
 // Rate limiting for API routes only
@@ -366,7 +372,7 @@ app.get('/api/health', (req, res) => {
 })
 
 // Submit lead
-app.post('/api/leads', (req, res) => {
+app.post('/api/leads', express.json({ limit: '1mb' }), (req, res) => {
   try {
     const parsed = leadSchema.safeParse(req.body)
 
@@ -440,7 +446,7 @@ app.post('/api/leads', (req, res) => {
 })
 
 // Submit support request
-app.post('/api/support', (req, res) => {
+app.post('/api/support', express.json({ limit: '1mb' }), (req, res) => {
   try {
     const parsed = supportSchema.safeParse(req.body)
 
diff --git a/src/lib/api.js b/src/lib/api.js
index 123d665..8cdafec 100644
--- a/src/lib/api.js
+++ b/src/lib/api.js
@@ -4,7 +4,15 @@ const API_BASE_URL = import.meta.env.VITE_API_URL || 'http://localhost:3001/api'
 
 export const api = {
   get: async (endpoint) => {
-    const response = await fetch(`${API_BASE_URL}${endpoint}`)
+    let response
+    try {
+      response = await fetch(`${API_BASE_URL}${endpoint}`)
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (err instanceof TypeError && err.message === 'Failed to fetch') {
+        throw new Error('Unable to reach the server. This may be a network or CORS issue.')
+      }
+      throw new Error(`Network error: ${err.message}`)
+    }
     if (!response.ok) {
       throw new Error(`API error: ${response.statusText}`)
     }
@@ -12,19 +20,32 @@ export const api = {
   },
 
   post: async (endpoint, data) => {
-    const response = await fetch(`${API_BASE_URL}${endpoint}`, {
-      method: 'POST',
-      headers: {
-        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
-      },
-      body: JSON.stringify(data),
-    })
+    let response
+    try {
+      response = await fetch(`${API_BASE_URL}${endpoint}`, {
+        method: 'POST',
+        headers: {
+          'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+        },
+        body: JSON.stringify(data),
+      })
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (err instanceof TypeError && err.message === 'Failed to fetch') {
+        throw new Error('Unable to reach the server. This may be a network or CORS issue.')
+      }
+      throw new Error(`Network error: ${err.message}`)
+    }
     if (!response.ok) {
-      const errorData = await response.json()
+      let errorData
+      try {
+        errorData = await response.json()
+      } catch {
+        throw new Error(`Server error (${response.status}): ${response.statusText}`)
+      }
       throw new Error(errorData.error || `API error: ${response.statusText}`)
     }
     return response.json()
   },
 }
 
-export { queryClient }
+export { queryClient }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/pages/Contact.jsx b/src/pages/Contact.jsx
index 639bb42..e4c15bf 100644
--- a/src/pages/Contact.jsx
+++ b/src/pages/Contact.jsx
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ const Contact = () => {
 
         {/* Right - Form */}
         <div>
-          <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} className={`space-y-6 ${mutation.isPending ? 'opacity-70 pointer-events-none' : ''}`}>
+          <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} noValidate className={`space-y-6 ${mutation.isPending ? 'opacity-70 pointer-events-none' : ''}`}>
             <div>
               <label htmlFor="company" className="block text-sm font-medium text-text mb-2">
                 Company Name <span className="text-red-600">*</span>
diff --git a/src/pages/Support.jsx b/src/pages/Support.jsx
index 5594cd3..e2368ac 100644
--- a/src/pages/Support.jsx
+++ b/src/pages/Support.jsx
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ const Support = () => {
 
         {/* Right - Form */}
         <div>
-          <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} className={`space-y-6 ${mutation.isPending ? 'opacity-70 pointer-events-none' : ''}`}>
+          <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} noValidate className={`space-y-6 ${mutation.isPending ? 'opacity-70 pointer-events-none' : ''}`}>
             <div>
               <label htmlFor="name" className="block text-sm font-medium text-text mb-2">
                 Name <span className="text-red-600">*</span>