php code

    private function userColumnExists($column, $value, $user_id = "")
    {
        if ($value) {
            $userColumnExists = User::where($column, $value);
            if($user_id) $userColumnExists = $userColumnExists->where("id", "!=", $user_id);
            if($userColumnExists->count() >=1 ) return true;
        }
        return false;
    }