How To Fix VP451 - Customer & cannot be deleted

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: VP - Vertriebsbelegpartner

• Message number: 451

• Message text: Customer & cannot be deleted

What causes this issue?

This sales <GL:partner>partner</> is used as a main partner in the sales
activity and cannot, therefore, be deleted.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message VP451 - Customer & cannot be deleted ?

  SAP Error Message:
  
  VP451 - Customer & cannot be deleted
  
  Cause:
  This error occurs when you try to delete a customer master record in SAP, but the system prevents the deletion because the customer is still referenced in other documents or master data. Common reasons include:
  
  The customer has open or historical sales documents (sales orders, deliveries, billing documents).
  The customer is assigned to other master data (e.g., partner functions, credit management).
  The customer is linked to accounting documents or has open financial transactions.
  The customer is used in other modules or processes that prevent deletion.
  
  SAP does not allow deletion of customer master records if they are in use to maintain data integrity.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check for Open Documents:
  
  Use transaction VA05 (List of Sales Orders) to check for open sales orders.
  Use VF03 to check for billing documents.
  Use VL03N to check for deliveries.
  Clear or close any open documents if possible.
  
  
  
  Check for Financial Transactions:
  
  Use FBL5N (Customer Line Item Display) to check for open or cleared items.
  Clear open items or post necessary documents.
  
  
  
  Check Customer Master Data Dependencies:
  
  Verify if the customer is assigned in credit management, partner functions, or other master data.
  Remove or reassign these dependencies.
  
  
  
  Mark Customer for Deletion:
  
  Instead of deleting, SAP usually allows you to mark a customer for deletion at the sales area level using transaction XD06 or VD06.
  This prevents further use without physically deleting the record.
  
  
  
  Archiving:
  
  If the customer is no longer needed and all dependencies are cleared, consider archiving the customer master data using SAP archiving tools.
  
  
  
  Consult SAP Notes:
  
  Check SAP Notes for any specific issues related to your SAP version.
  
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  
  Transaction Codes:
  
  XD06 / VD06: Mark customer for deletion
  XD05 / VD05: Delete customer master record (only possible if no dependencies)
  VA05: List sales orders
  FBL5N: Customer line items
  SE16N: To check tables like KNA1 (general data), VBAK (sales documents), BKPF (accounting documents)
  
  
  
  Tables to Check:
  
  KNA1: Customer master general data
  VBAK: Sales document header
  VBFA: Document flow
  BKPF/BSEG: Accounting documents
  
  
  
  SAP Help and Documentation:
  
  SAP Help Portal on Customer Master Data Management
  SAP Notes related to customer deletion restrictions
  
  
  
  
  Summary:
  You cannot delete a customer in SAP if it is referenced in any transactional or master data. Instead, identify and clear all dependencies or mark the customer for deletion to prevent further use. Physical deletion is rarely done and requires careful cleanup and archiving.