Help whatsapp is duplicating contacts

[YossiN]

I'm using the 4.4.2 version with the stock contacts app and having a problem that Whatsapp duplicates my contacts

Before installing whatsapp I had 1 contact:

Smith family
John 12345
Ann 98765

Now, after installing whatsapp I have 3 contacts:

Smith family
John 12345
Ann 98765

Smith family
John 12345
Whatsapp 12345

Smith family
Ann 98765
Whatsapp 98765

If the contact have only 1 phone number it doesn't duplicate itself.
No other change was made except installing whatsapp.

I filtered the list to show only the gmail accounts so it showed me only the original contact. But in the search it shows, again all the 3.

Of course, what I want is one record:

Smith family
John 12345
Ann 98765
Whatsapp 12345
Whatsapp 98765

1- Why did it happen? How do I overcome it?
2- Alternatively, are there contacts apps that DO know to “merge” the records?

Other ideas?
thanks

 

[cosetta]

One possibility is that you are allowing WA to sync with one of your email accounts. If so, it will download the same contact multiple times. I had this problem until I discovered that all my email accounts were set to sync contacts.