As a WordPress website developer, am I liable for plugin errors?
I'm a WordPress developer. Many years ago, I created a WordPress website for a client. The website included free third-party plugins.
I didn’t have my own terms and conditions back then.
I perform maintenance for the client every month for a small fee. Troubleshooting is not included. The agreement is that I will implement the available plugin updates.
Now, after the last plugin update, a bug has occurred in one of the plugins, and I made the customer an offer to fix the problem. He doesn't want to pay for it and claims I'm responsible.
What exactly is the legal situation here? In my current terms and conditions, I clearly state that I am not liable for plugin errors, but I didn't have any terms and conditions at the time the website was created. Am I liable for errors? And if so, for how many years after the website was created?
(2 votes)
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Without knowing exactly what was agreed and how the damage looks, it’s hard to say.
The Treaty cannot be unilaterally amended. The customer should be informed about the conditions to be changed and explicitly agree.
In the case of a common maintenance contract, it would be assumed that the service provider not only presses buttons blindly, but also ensures data protection and functional testing and, in the event of a defect, restores at least the last functioning state.
It is difficult to say here how to proceed in a specific case.
You’re stuck for your code – not for any 3rd party snap.
If the error is in the plugin, you can’t do anything for it.
I hope you have a solid SLA contract with your client.
I would say go back the update – let it run as a cunning and make the customer happy. It’ll get you more.
Talk to a specialist lawyer for IT law.
Can’t imagine someone paying a programmer who fails with a non-working/failing website.
So honestly, now on the update button of plugins, every toddler can press.
If you don’t check if the new versions are compatible or make backups before then I would claim you’re still guilty even though it’s third-party software.
You were paid to update not break.
If you can fix it, fix it or delete the specific plugin to save the site.
If you’re talking around now, you’re probably going to get the job off anyway, because nobody wants to work with someone like that who calculates every little thing. Then you have melted the cow too long and he noticed that he can do it himself 1x a month.
That. As a good service provider, you can also go an extra mile for the customer. After all, the customer can also recommend one.