diff --git a/pos/blueprints/customers_bp.py b/pos/blueprints/customers_bp.py
index c571f03..7fe7ad5 100644
--- a/pos/blueprints/customers_bp.py
+++ b/pos/blueprints/customers_bp.py
@@ -321,7 +321,12 @@ def update_customer(customer_id):
 @customers_bp.route('/<int:customer_id>', methods=['DELETE'])
 @require_auth('customers.delete')
 def delete_customer(customer_id):
-    """Soft-delete (deactivate) a customer."""
+    """Hard-delete a customer.
+
+    Related records (sales, service orders, vehicles, etc.) keep their data but
+    lose the customer reference. Layaways for this customer are removed because
+    they require a customer_id.
+    """
     conn = get_tenant_conn(g.tenant_id)
     cur = conn.cursor()
 
@@ -330,8 +335,29 @@ def delete_customer(customer_id):
         cur.close(); conn.close()
         return jsonify({'error': 'Customer not found'}), 404
 
-    cur.execute("UPDATE customers SET is_active = false WHERE id = %s", (customer_id,))
-    log_action(conn, 'CUSTOMER_DEACTIVATE', 'customer', customer_id)
+    # Remove layaway dependencies first, then the layaways themselves
+    cur.execute("DELETE FROM layaway_items WHERE layaway_id IN (SELECT id FROM layaways WHERE customer_id = %s)", (customer_id,))
+    cur.execute("DELETE FROM layaway_payments WHERE layaway_id IN (SELECT id FROM layaways WHERE customer_id = %s)", (customer_id,))
+    cur.execute("DELETE FROM layaways WHERE customer_id = %s", (customer_id,))
+
+    # Nullify every other FK reference back to customers.
+    cur.execute("""
+        SELECT c.relname::text AS tbl, a.attname::text AS col
+        FROM pg_constraint con
+        JOIN pg_class c ON c.oid = con.conrelid
+        JOIN pg_attribute a ON a.attrelid = con.conrelid AND a.attnum = ANY(con.conkey)
+        WHERE con.confrelid = 'public.customers'::regclass
+          AND con.contype = 'f'
+    """)
+    refs = cur.fetchall()
+    for tbl, col in refs:
+        # Cascade-delete tables and already-handled layaways are skipped.
+        if tbl in ('customer_activities', 'customer_tag_assignments', 'loyalty_points', 'loyalty_redemptions', 'layaways'):
+            continue
+        cur.execute(f'UPDATE "{tbl}" SET "{col}" = NULL WHERE "{col}" = %s', (customer_id,))
+
+    cur.execute("DELETE FROM customers WHERE id = %s", (customer_id,))
+    log_action(conn, 'CUSTOMER_DELETE', 'customer', customer_id)
     conn.commit()
     cur.close()
     conn.close()
diff --git a/pos/static/js/customers.js b/pos/static/js/customers.js
index e2c17d0..279fc59 100644
--- a/pos/static/js/customers.js
+++ b/pos/static/js/customers.js
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ const Customers = (() => {
             alert('No tienes permiso para eliminar clientes');
             return;
         }
-        if (!confirm(`¿Eliminar al cliente "${currentCustomer.name}"? Se marcará como inactivo.`)) return;
+        if (!confirm(`¿Eliminar al cliente "${currentCustomer.name}"? Se borrará completamente. Las ventas, órdenes y vehículos conservarán sus datos pero quedarán sin cliente asignado.`)) return;
         try {
             await api(`/pos/api/customers/${currentCustomer.id}`, { method: 'DELETE' });
             alert('Cliente eliminado');