diff --git a/backend/index.js b/backend/index.js
index 70125d9..36fbbb1 100644
--- a/backend/index.js
+++ b/backend/index.js
@@ -10,7 +10,16 @@ app.use(cors());
 app.use(express.json());
 
 // --- HELPER FUNCTIONS ---
-const formatDate = (date) => new Date(date).toISOString();
+const safeJsonParse = (val, fallback) => {
+  if (!val) return fallback;
+  if (typeof val === 'object') return val; // Already parsed by mysql2
+  try {
+    return JSON.parse(val);
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.warn('JSON Parse error:', e);
+    return fallback;
+  }
+};
 
 // --- AUTH ENDPOINTS ---
 
@@ -22,10 +31,9 @@ app.post('/api/auth/login', async (req, res) => {
     const agents = await query('SELECT * FROM agents WHERE email = ? AND password = ?', [email, password]);
     if (agents.length > 0) {
       const agent = agents[0];
-      // Parse JSON fields
-      agent.queues = typeof agent.queues === 'string' ? JSON.parse(agent.queues) : agent.queues;
-      agent.skills = typeof agent.skills === 'string' ? JSON.parse(agent.skills) : agent.skills;
-      agent.avatarConfig = typeof agent.avatar_config === 'string' ? JSON.parse(agent.avatar_config) : agent.avatar_config;
+      agent.queues = safeJsonParse(agent.queues, []);
+      agent.skills = safeJsonParse(agent.skills, []);
+      agent.avatarConfig = safeJsonParse(agent.avatar_config, {x: 50, y: 50, scale: 1});
       return res.json({ user: agent, role: agent.role });
     }
 
@@ -66,11 +74,11 @@ app.get('/api/settings', async (req, res) => {
     
     const s = rows[0];
     const settings = {
-      branding: typeof s.branding === 'string' ? JSON.parse(s.branding) : s.branding,
-      smtp: typeof s.smtp === 'string' ? JSON.parse(s.smtp) : s.smtp,
-      emailTemplates: typeof s.email_templates === 'string' ? JSON.parse(s.email_templates) : s.email_templates,
-      features: typeof s.features === 'string' ? JSON.parse(s.features) : s.features,
-      aiConfig: typeof s.ai_config === 'string' ? JSON.parse(s.ai_config) : s.ai_config
+      branding: safeJsonParse(s.branding, {}),
+      smtp: safeJsonParse(s.smtp, {}),
+      emailTemplates: safeJsonParse(s.email_templates, []),
+      features: safeJsonParse(s.features, {}),
+      aiConfig: safeJsonParse(s.ai_config, {})
     };
     res.json(settings);
   } catch (e) {
@@ -106,9 +114,9 @@ app.get('/api/initial-data', async (req, res) => {
     const agents = await query('SELECT * FROM agents');
     const parsedAgents = agents.map(a => ({
       ...a,
-      queues: typeof a.queues === 'string' ? JSON.parse(a.queues) : a.queues,
-      skills: typeof a.skills === 'string' ? JSON.parse(a.skills) : a.skills,
-      avatarConfig: typeof a.avatar_config === 'string' ? JSON.parse(a.avatar_config) : a.avatar_config
+      queues: safeJsonParse(a.queues, []),
+      skills: safeJsonParse(a.skills, []),
+      avatarConfig: safeJsonParse(a.avatar_config, {x: 50, y: 50, scale: 1})
     }));
 
     // Fetch Client Users
@@ -129,11 +137,11 @@ app.get('/api/initial-data', async (req, res) => {
     if (settingsRows.length > 0) {
        const s = settingsRows[0];
        settings = {
-        branding: typeof s.branding === 'string' ? JSON.parse(s.branding) : s.branding,
-        smtp: typeof s.smtp === 'string' ? JSON.parse(s.smtp) : s.smtp,
-        emailTemplates: typeof s.email_templates === 'string' ? JSON.parse(s.email_templates) : s.email_templates,
-        features: typeof s.features === 'string' ? JSON.parse(s.features) : s.features,
-        aiConfig: typeof s.ai_config === 'string' ? JSON.parse(s.ai_config) : s.ai_config
+        branding: safeJsonParse(s.branding, {}),
+        smtp: safeJsonParse(s.smtp, {}),
+        emailTemplates: safeJsonParse(s.email_templates, []),
+        features: safeJsonParse(s.features, {}),
+        aiConfig: safeJsonParse(s.ai_config, {})
        };
     }
 
@@ -146,7 +154,7 @@ app.get('/api/initial-data', async (req, res) => {
       settings
     });
   } catch (e) {
-    console.error(e);
+    console.error("Initial Data Error:", e);
     res.status(500).json({ error: e.message });
   }
 });
@@ -181,8 +189,8 @@ app.get('/api/tickets', async (req, res) => {
     
     const tickets = rows.map(t => ({
       ...t,
-      attachments: typeof t.attachments === 'string' ? JSON.parse(t.attachments || '[]') : t.attachments,
-      messages: typeof t.messages === 'string' ? JSON.parse(t.messages || '[]') : (t.messages || [])
+      attachments: safeJsonParse(t.attachments, []),
+      messages: safeJsonParse(t.messages, [])
     }));
 
     res.json(tickets);