input = $input; } /** * @param string $attribute * @param mixed $value * @return bool */ public function passes($attribute, $value) { return $this->checkIfExpenseNumberUnique(); //if it exists, return false! } /** * @return string */ public function message() { return 'Expense number already taken'; } /** * @param $email * * //off,when_sent,when_paid * * @return bool */ private function checkIfExpenseNumberUnique() : bool { $expense = Expense::where('client_id', $this->input['client_id']) ->where('number', $this->input['number']) ->withTrashed() ->exists(); if ($expense) { return false; } return true; } }