Wordpress updates "maintainence fee"

[Justin Smith]

I've recently moved my website (c/w online Woocommerce shop) to a Wordpress platform and I have a chap helping me do so which cost getting on for £2K (including one years website and E mail hosting) though I did most of the work once shown how to. However, after the "moved" site's been live for a few months I am being asked to pay for a "updates maintenance contract", at £250 a year...... This is to install all the updates as and when they come out "and test them". Bearing in mind I'm already paying him to host the site and this fee wasn't mentioned in the initial quote, is that really reasonable ? If the site is working is it really necessary to install every update anyway because he offers a service to install all current updates for £35
He is also offering "enhanced back up" service at another £200 a year, is this all "normal" ? Surely the site should be backed up at the server ?

I don't know much about Wordpress but my last site was Webplus. It never lost significant functionality as a result of using "an out of date version", and when I updated (every 5 years or so) it was a simple job anyway.

 

[Ian J]

I'm no great IT expert but even I can install updates myself

 

[Darren_Ssc]

I don't know much about Wordpress but my last site was Webplus. It never lost significant functionality as a result of using "an out of date version", and when I updated (every 5 years or so) it was a simple job anyway.

1. Do you have log in details for the site?
2. Do you have access to the hosting?
3. Is the domain registered in your name and do you have access to it?

If you do then tell him to **** off.

 

[KM-Tiger]

On one level this doesn't sound expensive, but it does depend on exactly what you get. For instance, is there a staging version of your site on which updates are tested before being applied to the production site?

Either way this has been very badly handled by the service supplier.

 

[fisicx]

Also worth pointing out that the new site has still got a whole load of things need fixing. A page speed score of 55/100 tells you they didn’t do a very good job.

 

[Justin Smith]

On one level this doesn't sound expensive, but it does depend on exactly what you get. For instance, is there a staging version of your site on which updates are tested before being applied to the production site?

Either way this has been very badly handled by the service supplier.

He says he'd only apply the updates which are "stable releases" so I assume it's just putting them on.

 

[Justin Smith]

1. Do you have log in details for the site?
2. Do you have access to the hosting?
3. Is the domain registered in your name and do you have access to it?

If you do then tell him to **** off.

I have access to the dashboard so I can add stuff to the site etc. I don't have access to the hosting. The domain is registered in my name but I don't think I have access to it.
Interesting sidelight, my Wordpress guy is a one man band and we have had the conversation about if he gets hit by the infamous bus, what would I do to regain all the access and transfer it to A N Other provider ? I think more people should be thinking ahead on this kind of problem, that said, I have and have mentioned it more than once, but I soon lose interest when he starts talking about domain registrations, website hosting log in and transfer procedures, server this and that.....

 

[fisicx]

He says he'd only apply the updates which are "stable releases" so I assume it's just putting them on.

That's just BS

...but I soon lose interest when he starts talking about domain registrations, website hosting log in and transfer procedures, server this and that.....

Most of that you can ignore. All you need is a login to your hosting to be able to control everything. If he's just hosting on his own account then you need to get control.

 

[Justin Smith]

At best I might get him to do all the updates (at £37.50...…) once a year. Why should it need doing more than that ?

As for back ups this is all new to me with Wordpress because the Webplus software was on my own PC, it was easy to back that up and I did so just about everywhere, but Wordpress is hosted on a server. Thus I'm a bit concerned about the "enhanced back up" that my IT guy is offering me (and "strongly advising" me to take), surely the server host company should be doing back ups anyway ? The question is how often they do so I suppose. If the site is altered every few days how often do host server companies update their back ups ?
And is there any chance whatsoever that the hosting company could lose both the "frontline" site and the back up ?

 

[fisicx]

At best I might get him to do all the updates (at £37.50...…) once a year. Why should it need doing more than that ?

Because wordpress, themes and plugins are updated regularly. You should be maintaining your site at least once a week.

Do not pay this guy anything. They have messed up your site and it's gong to take a lot of work to put it all right.

Some hosts offer a free backup service, some ask you to pay. I use a service called vaultpress. Some do it themselves. Do not pay your IT guy anything. Daily backups are usually sufficient.

 

[Darren_Ssc]

And is there any chance whatsoever that the hosting company could lose both the "frontline" site and the back up ?

Yeah, it happens. This isn't to say you should be paying this guy though. What guarantee do you have that his back-ups are going to be reliable and easy to roll back to?

 

[Alan]

If the site is working is it really necessary to install every update anyway because he offers a service to install all current updates for £35
He is also offering "enhanced back up" service at another £200 a year, is this all "normal" ? Surely the site should be backed up at the server ?

The answer is you (may) get the service you pay for.

If you just want to get 'hosted' and rely on what ever backup your host supplies and you update your own updates and take whatever comes with it - just pay a host.

If you want a 'hands off' services where some one else ensures your site is backed up to a third party and regularly updates your plugins etc and monitors your site and fixes issues
with updates and even fixes hacks be prepared to pay for that service. The market price for such service is between £25 - £150 per month depending on many factors including SLA.

 

[obscure]

If the site is working is it really necessary to install every update anyway because he offers a service to install all current updates for £35

Yes it is necessary. Web security is important and many of the updates for WP or plugins are to patch vulnerabilities that would allow hackers to take over your site.

Web apps are no different to computer apps or phone apps. They need to be updated. However I do think the developer should have made this clear (and any associated costs) up front.

 

[gpietersz]

I have access to the dashboard so I can add stuff to the site etc. I don't have access to the hosting. The domain is registered in my name but I don't think I have access to it.

Not good. You are not in control, and you cannot get someone else to take over the site - or even set up a new site with the same domain.

And is there any chance whatsoever that the hosting company could lose both the "frontline" site and the back up

Its possible, depending on how and where they backup to.

Its also possible that they do whole server backups and cannot easily restore a single site without affecting others. Maybe the hosting providers here could say what they do and what is common practice.

I also would not rely on the hosting provider for backups. Its similar to the "what if he gets hit by a bus" issue. Its not difficult or expensive to set up backups somewhere completely independent. For site that does not change often and is reasonably small you can even backup to your PC.

Its even worse if the hosting is controlled by someone who has not done a good job and is a one man band.

 

[Justin Smith]

I've been reading around and is BackUpBuddy the recommended back up plugin for Wordpress ? How much should it cost ? And should one use BackUpStash for the back ups ?

 

[Darren_Ssc]

I've been reading around and is BackUpBuddy the recommended back up plugin for Wordpress ? How much should it cost ? And should one use BackUpStash for the back ups ?

You would be better off learning how to do a back-up directly from your hosting account rather than relying on plug-ins and third-party solutions. That way you know can restore your site if disaster happens rather than just thinking you can and then finding your third party solution has let you down or has a system that's either practically unworkable or overly complex.

Even if you do decide to opt for the 'easy' route you will, at least, have a basic understanding of how it works.

 

[Justin Smith]

"Included" in this 'maintenance agreement' is the undertaking to repair any problems with the site caused either by updates with bugs in them or indeed updates not done. Is that worth having ? Can you not just revert the site to "pre update" ? How often do updates have serious bugs in them ?

 

[Darren_Ssc]

"Included" in this 'maintenance agreement' is the undertaking to repair any problems with the site caused either by updates with bugs in them or indeed updates not done. Is that worth having ? Can you not just revert the site to "pre update" ? How often do updates have serious bugs in them ?

I'm beginning to remember why I got tired of you the last time you had a problem....

 

[Justin Smith]

"Included" in this 'maintenance agreement' is the undertaking to repair any problems with the site caused either by updates with bugs in them or indeed updates not done. Is that worth having ? Can you not just revert the site to "pre update" ? How often do updates have serious bugs in them ?

I'm beginning to remember why I got tired of you the last time you had a problem....

I thought this forum was for people who needed advice and help with Wordpress ! ? !
What have I asked in the previous post which is "annoying" or not worth asking.....

 

[fisicx]

"Included" in this 'maintenance agreement' is the undertaking to repair any problems with the site caused either by updates with bugs in them or indeed updates not done. Is that worth having ? Can you not just revert the site to "pre update" ? How often do updates have serious bugs in them ?

Once again, he is taking advantage of you. You do not need to pay for this service. There is nothing on your site that will cause you a problem.

Fixing the more major issues on the site will make this even less so.

 

[fisicx]

What have I asked in the previous post which is "annoying" or not worth asking.....

People keep telling you not to pay for the maintenance but you appear not to listen.

Updating your site is something you can do yourself in a few minutes each week.

 

[UKSBD]

People keep telling you not to pay for the maintenance but you appear not to listen.

Updating your site is something you can do yourself in a few minutes each week.

I had someone who I told that to.

Explained very clearly how he could do it.

Could guarantee I would get a phone call every month asking another very basic questions

Sometime it would be "It says click here to update - what do I do?"

These phone calls would go on and on, get longer and longer until you eventually have to say something like, it's £30 a 15 minute session for upgrading and advice - just to get rid of them

Updating your site is something you can do yourself in a few minutes each week.

Those few minutes a week soon add up when someone else asks you to do it.

The OP need to learn how to do it himself, find someone else to do it, do a deal with person offering it, it or accept what he is quoted.

 

[Tom Volpe]

I agree with comments here that this has been badly handled by the service provider - assuming you were not made aware of these costs until after you had been contracted for other services.

I also agree that you can learn to maintain your site yourself - indeed anyone can learn any skill critical to their business with enough time and effort.

Wordpress can be a very frustrating platform, it's greatest strengths are also in some ways its greatest weaknesses. Sites definitely can be broken by updates, the more plugins your site relies on the more likely this is.

Paying someone to run the updates for you (assuming they are reputable, which is critical) means sometimes you will be paying them a massive premium to click a button you could have clicked yourself. Sometimes (less often) you might be paying them sub-minimum wage to solve the problem that clicking that button caused - urgently.

I would argue that this is a bit like insurance. If it causes you zero problems if you site goes haywire - then don't bother. If you want to avoid the headache of dealing with it, pay someone to look after it for you, and let them assume the risk of it going wrong.

Either way - if you don't have a good relationship with this supplier (and I've not looked at the site but others have commented unfavourably about their work) - then you won't struggle to find someone else to do it for you.

 

[Alex Calinov]

Is it cheap, is it expensive? Depends. This is a very subjective question. Some might find it cheap, others might find it expensive.

I, for example, offer a maintenance package for £67 per month, which includes hosting + a monthly allowance for extra changes to the website. Is that good bad? I don't know, the price works for me, the clients are happy, etc.. I know I'm not the cheapest, but also not the most expensive one.

You have to understand that you're NOT paying for someone to click a button. Yes, it might seem that way, and in fact, that's exactly how I describe it to my own clients after I finished building a website. I show them how to update the website, and in most cases, there are no problems.

However:

• You need to be doing consistently because updates are released for a reason. - and that's where most people fail. And that's one of the reasons they hire someone else.
• You need to be prepared to handle a scenario where an update could go wrong. Yes, click Update, boom done. That's easy, but again, I've encountered situations where plugin/theme developers released a bogus update. So what do you do then? Do you have the knowledge of handling this situation?
• You need to keep up with the updates to keep your website safe. WordPress it's a popular platform, but that also means it attracts a lot of attention. I've seen websites getting hacked literally overnight. In the majority of cases, the plugin developer has done released an update to fix this, but no one was there to update the website. So sometimes it's not just a case of updating once a month, or once a week. You just have to do it as soon as something is released.
• And you need you to have a backup system in place if everything above fails, or human error, you might delete something by mistake. Backups can fail as well, so it's always good, to backup your website in 2 different places. That's what I do.

The thing is, you are paying for that peace of mind that someone is there, not just to do the clicking, but is qualified and capable of maintaining your website, any situation.

As someone else mentioned, this is similar to an insurance policy. If everything is well, then happy days. You think you might not need it. But if something goes wrong, you wish you had it.

You have to do your own due diligence.