---
title: Why does system change the guest name?
description: Tablein identifies guests by their phone number, using it as a unique ID. If the same phone number is used for multiple guests, the system will automatically update all existing reservations linked to
---

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# Why does system change the guest name?

Tablein **identifies guests by their phone number**, using it as a unique **ID**. If the **same phone number** is used for multiple guests, the system will automatically **update all existing reservations** linked to that number with the most recent guest details.

#### **How This Affects Reservations:**

- When you search by **phone number** or **name**, the system retrieves all **linked reservations** and updates them with the latest information.
- If different guests share the **same phone number**, the system assumes it's the **same person** and updates the name and email accordingly.
- This can result in **wrong guests receiving emails and notifications** about a reservation they never made.
- **Example:** If you first create a reservation for **John** and later add one for **Julia** using the **same phone number**, all past and future reservations under that number will update to **Julia**.

### **How to Prevent This Issue:**

✅ **Always enter the correct phone number for each guest.**  
✅ **If you don’t have the guest’s phone number, leave the field empty.**  
✅ **Avoid using the restaurant’s phone number or a generic number** for multiple guests.

### **Managing Phone Number Requirements**

You can **disable the phone number requirement** for manually added reservations by adjusting your settings:  
🔗 **[Turn off the phone number requirement here](https://admin.tablein.com/settings/calendar-and-list/settings)** *(Online reservations will still require a phone number).*

![](https://help.tablein.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Tablein%20Demo%20restaurant%20(Main%20street)%202025-02-20%20at%205-15-12%20PM-png.png?width=2860&height=1876&name=Tablein%20Demo%20restaurant%20(Main%20street)%202025-02-20%20at%205-15-12%20PM-png.png)Following these best practices will help maintain **accurate guest records** and prevent unintended updates to reservation details.

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