diff --git a/backend/app/routers/connections.py b/backend/app/routers/connections.py
index 2f90b3b..aa7de36 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/connections.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/connections.py
@@ -522,7 +522,11 @@ async def _respond_to_request_inner(
         # Extract ntfy config before commit (avoids detached SA object in background task)
         sender_ntfy = extract_ntfy_config(sender_settings) if sender_settings else None
 
-        await db.commit()
+        try:
+            await db.commit()
+        except IntegrityError:
+            await db.rollback()
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=409, detail="Connection already exists")
 
         # ntfy push in background
         background_tasks.add_task(
diff --git a/backend/app/services/connection.py b/backend/app/services/connection.py
index 33eeb31..e169e5a 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/connection.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/connection.py
@@ -129,11 +129,16 @@ async def detach_umbral_contact(person: Person) -> None:
     """Convert an umbral contact back to a standard contact. Does NOT commit."""
     person.linked_user_id = None
     person.is_umbral_contact = False
-    # Clear shared field values but preserve locally-entered data
-    # If no first_name exists, fill from the old name
-    if not person.first_name:
-        person.first_name = person.name or None
-
+    person.category = None
+    # Clear all shareable fields — they were populated from the connection
+    # Preserve first_name from existing name so the contact is not left blank
+    fallback_name = person.first_name or person.name or None
+    for field in SHAREABLE_FIELDS:
+        if hasattr(person, field):
+            setattr(person, field, None)
+    person.first_name = fallback_name
+    # Recompute display name
+    person.name = fallback_name or "Removed Contact"
 
 def extract_ntfy_config(settings: Settings) -> dict | None:
     """Extract ntfy config values into a plain dict safe for use after session close."""
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/people/PeoplePage.tsx b/frontend/src/components/people/PeoplePage.tsx
index 302d8d5..4e52d41 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/people/PeoplePage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/people/PeoplePage.tsx
@@ -100,8 +100,8 @@ const columns: ColumnDef<Person>[] = [
     sortable: true,
     visibilityLevel: 'essential',
     render: (p) => {
-      const firstName = sf(p, 'first_name') ?? p.first_name;
-      const lastName = sf(p, 'last_name') ?? p.last_name;
+      const firstName = sf(p, 'first_name');
+      const lastName = sf(p, 'last_name');
       const liveName = [firstName, lastName].filter(Boolean).join(' ') || p.nickname || p.name;
       const initialsName = liveName || getPersonInitialsName(p);
       return (
@@ -125,8 +125,8 @@ const columns: ColumnDef<Person>[] = [
     sortable: false,
     visibilityLevel: 'essential',
     render: (p) => {
-      const mobile = sf(p, 'mobile') ?? p.mobile;
-      const phone = sf(p, 'phone') ?? p.phone;
+      const mobile = sf(p, 'mobile');
+      const phone = sf(p, 'phone');
       return <span className="text-muted-foreground truncate">{mobile || phone || '—'}</span>;
     },
   },
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ const columns: ColumnDef<Person>[] = [
     sortable: true,
     visibilityLevel: 'essential',
     render: (p) => {
-      const email = sf(p, 'email') ?? p.email;
+      const email = sf(p, 'email');
       return <span className="text-muted-foreground truncate">{email || '—'}</span>;
     },
   },
@@ -146,8 +146,8 @@ const columns: ColumnDef<Person>[] = [
     sortable: true,
     visibilityLevel: 'filtered',
     render: (p) => {
-      const jobTitle = sf(p, 'job_title') ?? p.job_title;
-      const company = sf(p, 'company') ?? p.company;
+      const jobTitle = sf(p, 'job_title');
+      const company = sf(p, 'company');
       const parts = [jobTitle, company].filter(Boolean);
       return <span className="text-muted-foreground truncate">{parts.join(', ') || '—'}</span>;
     },
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ const columns: ColumnDef<Person>[] = [
     sortable: true,
     visibilityLevel: 'filtered',
     render: (p) => {
-      const birthday = sf(p, 'birthday') ?? p.birthday;
+      const birthday = sf(p, 'birthday');
       return birthday ? (
         <span className="text-muted-foreground">{format(parseISO(birthday), 'MMM d')}</span>
       ) : (
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useNotifications.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useNotifications.ts
index 0681773..28c85c4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useNotifications.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useNotifications.ts
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ export function NotificationProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
       return data.count;
     },
     refetchInterval: 15_000,
-    refetchIntervalInBackground: true,
     staleTime: 10_000,
   });