Mage::init('default') causing error in Module - php

Question

I have test php script running outside of Magento that will add an item to the cart. Works great. This code was found here and used by many people in quite a few posts. When I place this code into an existing module, the item is not added, from a fresh session. If I go to the store and add a regular product (have an item in my cart) the module will add the item properly. I Know the code to add the item works. The problem I have is with creating the FIRST instance of a cart.
This code works just fine if already have a normal magento product in my cart:
// this section of code only works if the customer already has a cart item added (cart established)
// for some reason this script fails when no cart exists
$session = Mage::getSingleton('customer/session');
// Get cart instance
$cart = Mage::getSingleton('checkout/cart');
$cart->init();
$productId=971;
$productInstance = Mage::getModel('catalog/product')->load($productId);
$param = array(
'product' => $productId,
'qty' => $rfqdata['option_quantity'],
'options' => array(
27 => $rfqdata['option_layers'], // Layers
26 => $rfqdata['option_thickness'], // Thickness
25 => $rfqdata['option_length'], // Length
24 => $rfqdata['option_width'], // Width
23 => $rfqdata['option_color'], // Color
22 => $rfqdata['option_finish'], // Finish
29 => $rfqdata['option_rush'], // Rush
30 => 'tbd' // RFQ Number
)
);
$request = new Varien_Object();
$request->setData($param);
$cart->addProduct($productInstance, $param);
$session->setCartWasUpdated(true);
$cart->save();
This somehow causes an error, and the module addtocart action is not completed. I cannot find any useful error messages. I have searched 100s of pages on stack, google, and I can find nothing to resolve this issue. Obviously my module is worthless if it doesn't work from page load 1.
I tried to post this before and got no response. I really need some help. If you cannot answer, can you tell me where I can find paid Magento support?

Answer 1

here is the solution, it was very hard to find too....
if(empty($quote)){
$checkout = Mage::getSingleton('checkout/session');
$quote = $checkout->getQuote();
$session = Mage::getSingleton('customer/session');
if($session->isLoggedIn()) {
// look up customer
$customerSession = $session->getCustomer();
$customer = Mage::getModel('customer/customer')->load($customerSession->getId());
$quote->assignCustomer($customer);
$quote->setIsMultiShipping(false);
}
$quote->save();
}