Index: lams_central/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/web/qb/QbCollectionController.java
===================================================================
diff -u -rf7fd0521036524de08176d1827dbb92d42f73a54 -r3bc02e2e2858938ef1fce59766cb6e682de8107d
--- lams_central/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/web/qb/QbCollectionController.java	(.../QbCollectionController.java)	(revision f7fd0521036524de08176d1827dbb92d42f73a54)
+++ lams_central/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/web/qb/QbCollectionController.java	(.../QbCollectionController.java)	(revision 3bc02e2e2858938ef1fce59766cb6e682de8107d)
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 package org.lamsfoundation.lams.web.qb;
 
+import org.apache.commons.lang.StringUtils;
 import org.apache.log4j.Logger;
 import org.lamsfoundation.lams.outcome.service.IOutcomeService;
 import org.lamsfoundation.lams.qb.model.QbCollection;
@@ -186,11 +187,22 @@
     @RequestMapping(path = "/addCollection", method = RequestMethod.POST, produces = "text/plain")
     @ResponseBody
     public ResponseEntity<String> addCollection(@RequestParam String name) {
+	if (StringUtils.isBlank(name)) {
+	    return ResponseEntity.status(HttpStatus.FORBIDDEN).body("Name is required for creating a new collection");
+	}
 	if (!Configuration.getAsBoolean(ConfigurationKeys.QB_COLLECTIONS_CREATE_ALLOW)) {
 	    log.error("Trying to create a new collection when it is disabled: " + name);
 	    return ResponseEntity.status(HttpStatus.FORBIDDEN).body("Creating QB collections is disabled");
 	}
-	QbCollection collection = qbService.addCollection(getUserId(), name);
+	String trimmedName = name.strip();
+	boolean nameAlreadyExists = qbService.getUserCollections(getUserId()).stream().map(QbCollection::getName)
+		.anyMatch(collectionName -> collectionName.equalsIgnoreCase(trimmedName));
+	if (nameAlreadyExists) {
+	    return ResponseEntity.status(HttpStatus.FORBIDDEN)
+		    .body(messageService.getMessage("label.qb.collection.name.duplicate.error"));
+	}
+
+	QbCollection collection = qbService.addCollection(getUserId(), trimmedName);
 	return ResponseEntity.ok(collection.getUid().toString());
     }
 
Index: lams_central/web/questions/questionChoice.jsp
===================================================================
diff -u -rf7fd0521036524de08176d1827dbb92d42f73a54 -r3bc02e2e2858938ef1fce59766cb6e682de8107d
--- lams_central/web/questions/questionChoice.jsp	(.../questionChoice.jsp)	(revision f7fd0521036524de08176d1827dbb92d42f73a54)
+++ lams_central/web/questions/questionChoice.jsp	(.../questionChoice.jsp)	(revision 3bc02e2e2858938ef1fce59766cb6e682de8107d)
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@
 									}
 								},
 								error : function (xhr) {
-									alert(xhr.status);
+									alert(xhr.responseText);
 								}
 							});
 						}
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@
 
 					<div id="buttonsDiv" class="voffset10 pull-right">
 						<input class="btn btn-default" value='<fmt:message key="button.cancel"/>' type="button" onClick="javascript:window.close()" />
-						<input id="submitButton" class="btn btn-primary" value='<fmt:message key="label.ok"/>'      type="button" onClick="javascript:submitForm()" />
+						<input id="submitButton" class="btn btn-primary" value='<fmt:message key="label.ok"/>' type="button" onClick="javascript:submitForm()" />
 					</div>
 				</form>
 			</c:otherwise>