NetSuite Error: [Code=CONTACT_ALREADY_EXISTS] A Contact Record With This Name Already Exists. Every Contact Record Must Have a Unique Name

Applies to Riva Cloud and Riva On-Premise.

Issue

The error prevents the creation of new contacts or new appointments.

[Appointment] Error - Contact already exists, [Code=CONTACT_ALREADY_EXISTS] A contact record with this name already exists. Every contact record must have a unique name.. (Contact={FIRSTNAME LASTNAME}): {APPT SUBJECT}

[Contact] Error - Contact already exists, [Code=CONTACT_ALREADY_EXISTS] A contact record with this name already exists. Every contact record must have a unique name.. (Contact={FIRSTNAME LASTNAME}): {FIRSTNAME LASTNAME}

Cause

This error indicates that there is already a contact in NetSuite that has the "Firstname Lastname" combination.

NetSuite prevents the creation of multiple contacts with the same "Firstname Lastname" combination.

Typically, this is caused by a single contact using multiple email addresses and the CRM contact record has not been updated with the alternate email address.

Solution

Update the CRM with the additional email address.
Update the CRM contact record with the alternate email field.

Example

A contact with the name of "Jonathan Masters" exists in NetSuite with the primary email of j.masters@netsuite.com.

The user being synchronized by Riva has received an appointment or email from Jonathan Masters, who used his personal email address, john.master@gmail.com, instead of his business email address.

Both email addresses are legitimate, but NetSuite prevents the creation of a second contact because there is already a contact with this name.

The solution is to add the second email address to the existing contact record in the Alternate Email field in NetSuite.