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Wilson Design and Build
Level 2
posted
‎November 08, 2022 02:46 PM
last updated ‎November 07, 2022 7:46 PM

Customers with the same name: cannot create a new customer despite different email addresses. All workarounds do not create legally binding invoices.

We are creating a new customer through the QBO API.
We are returned the customer already exists.

The customer is a different person. Here is how I know:
They have different emails
They have different DNA
They come from different parts of the country
I have seen them in the same room together. I can confirm they are two distinct people.

Now, here is the problem. If i add a special character to the customer, how can I identify them moving forward?
My lawyers have advised that if the invoices are not in the name of the entity, the entity is not legally obligated to pay the invoice (we work in property so the names etc has to be PERFECT)

I have tried: Adding on suffix as email address (the suffix field is too small for this, and for other UID numbers). It also makes PhD clients feel left out because their full title is not displayed.

I have tried adding a middle name as the UID. This is a problem because some clients have middle names so we cannot do that (and what if the middle name is the same????)

I have tried adding prefix as UID and referring to everyone as them/they but that doesnt work either (same issue as suffix)
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Best answer November 08, 2022
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Wilson Design and Build
Level 2
‎November 08, 2022 06:25 PM

Customers with the same name: cannot create a new customer despite different email addresses. All workarounds do not create legally binding invoices.

I am going to mark this as resolved. For people who are having the same issues, this is what happend:

1) Display Name in QBO is NOT a 'display name' it is simply an internal reference.

2) The display name is concatenated from the 'name' fields such as middle name, surname, first name, title etc.

3) The display name is not shown on invoices

4) We update the display name with the following through the API:

firstName, middleName, lastName, email

 

The above ensures that the display name is unique in every case due to email address of customer.

Some other observations:

1) It seems that in integrating with QBTime, the firstName and lastName fields are used, NOT display name.

2) Invoices use firstName, lastName, middleName, company etc. fields for the 'Invoice To' section of the invoice, they DO NOT use display name

 

Therefore display name is a misnomer. When using API, you should always pass in display name and DO NOT allow QBO to create the display name for you by passing in the name parameters. Always define display name with the following pattern:

1) Easily recognisable information (such as first name, last name, company etc) + 2) Unique ID (email, CRM customer ID etc)

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2 Comments 2
Charies_M
Moderator
Moderator
‎November 08, 2022 03:48 PM

Customers with the same name: cannot create a new customer despite different email addresses. All workarounds do not create legally binding invoices.

Good day, Wilson Design and Build.

 

Let me get you to the right support team that currently handles QBO API concerns. We have Developers Team that are experts in handling QBO API app integration with the third-party application such as Foodics.

 

Here's how you can reach them:

  1. Visit this link: https://developer.intuit.com/app/developer/homepage.
  2. Scroll down, at the bottom click Contact us under the Intuit column.
  3. Select a topic from What do you need help with?
  4. Click As a Question and follow on-screen instructions.

You might also want to visit our QuickBooks Online learning guides for tutorials and webinars about the product.

 

If there's anything I can help you with, just let me know by leaving a comment below or post again. Thank you and have a great day ahead.

Reply
Wilson Design and Build
Level 2
‎November 08, 2022 06:25 PM

Customers with the same name: cannot create a new customer despite different email addresses. All workarounds do not create legally binding invoices.

I am going to mark this as resolved. For people who are having the same issues, this is what happend:

1) Display Name in QBO is NOT a 'display name' it is simply an internal reference.

2) The display name is concatenated from the 'name' fields such as middle name, surname, first name, title etc.

3) The display name is not shown on invoices

4) We update the display name with the following through the API:

firstName, middleName, lastName, email

 

The above ensures that the display name is unique in every case due to email address of customer.

Some other observations:

1) It seems that in integrating with QBTime, the firstName and lastName fields are used, NOT display name.

2) Invoices use firstName, lastName, middleName, company etc. fields for the 'Invoice To' section of the invoice, they DO NOT use display name

 

Therefore display name is a misnomer. When using API, you should always pass in display name and DO NOT allow QBO to create the display name for you by passing in the name parameters. Always define display name with the following pattern:

1) Easily recognisable information (such as first name, last name, company etc) + 2) Unique ID (email, CRM customer ID etc)

Reply