Charging for manual upgrade of wordpress and should I even do it?

[jennyrusks]

Hi there
Just looking for some advice. I did a blog a while ago for someone who already had a website and their own hosting setup. I used their hosts "installatron" software to install wordpress and it installed an oldish version of wordpress (2.3 I think). Although I knew it was old at the time I didn't think too much about it because I assumed I could either use installatron again to update it (as I've done on other hosts) or use the automatic update plugin which I've also used on other hosts.

Unfortunately the host's installatron does not have any upgrade feature and no matter what I try I can't get the automatic update plugin to work - I get a fatal error every time.

The other issue is that I did this blog (the price was for a custom design and installation of wordpress) about 4 months ago and this person suddenly stopped receiving me emails once it was done and time for payment (wierd how that happens, isn't it?) and after many emails they paid me HALF of what they owe me last week. They sent me an email last week to tell me I had been paid and at the same time wanted an upgrade.

So I'm wondering if any of you guys charge for a manual upgrade of wordpress AND do you think I am obliged to upgrade it for them, or have I done my bit by using the tools provided by their host? If it was a click of a button I would just do it but I feel like I've already done a lot for this person, just short of giving them a pint of blood and because they still owe me half I'm worried if I'll ever see that money. It's not a huge amount, but its the principle.

thanks for your help,

Jennifer

 

[paul]

re: upgrade :: If you have FTP access it should be do-able in under 5/10 mins. d/l from wordpress.org then upload the files, and go to the admin panel to start the changes. And then you are done.

I would charge for it, or have it in a maintenance contract.

You can always say you are willing to do the upgrade once the payment clears.

 

[EdenWeb]

Hi Jenny
Did I understand correctly that you are still waiting on 50% of the previous invoice?
Peter

 

[Briask]

If you've not received FULL payment for your previous work, why would you go down the path of doing even more work that you most likely won't get paid for?

 

[davkell]

Hi Jennifer,

I'd say definitely charge a small fee for it - it's going to take up some of your time; as Paul said, a good idea is a maintenance contract to cover that type of stuff. I've been thinking about that myself recently for WP sites because of how frequently updates are released.

Having said that, I wouldn't do it for them until they cleared their account. I don't think paying half the fee 4 months late is enough to consider doing any more work for them. I'd be more inclined to suggest to them that you can remove the custom WP theme until the account is cleared.

 

[jennyrusks]

Hi all

Thanks very much for the replies. Yes, Peter, they still owe me 50%.

I can see that I probably look insane to be even contemplating doing it before getting paid the balance. I'm stupidly allowing her to hold me hostage.

I'll email and demand payment (again) and if they want an upgrade they can pay for maintenance. Although I really don't want anything to do with this person again, so I'm just aiming for payment.

thanks again

Jennifer

 

[jen.bas]

Hi,

Ahh.. definitely you should charge for it, since it's your time and your knowledge that you are offering to them and not just another candy..

Goodluck to your work and hope they'll pay you the other half on time as well..

 

[EdenWeb]

It does seem insane as an outsider reading it but then things can sometimes a little more complicated when you're the supplier.

But I would say that if they have only paid for 50% of the work that I would not even consider doing any further work until the account is balanced and you have every right to remove the 50% of work that has not been paid for. They cannot be using you as a cheap form of credit.

In relation to emailing them, I would not bother. A phonecall is always best. I've done the same myself (emailing them) and realised I was just burying my head in the sand.

Other than that, I would charge for the upgrade service. That's the very nature of their request right? IE that you have specialist skills that marks you as a professional providing a service that they require. I know it probably sounds silly but just because something is 'easy' or 'only takes a few minutes' does not devalue the expertise it requires. I frequently do stuff for *some* clients that they are never billed for or would even realise I'd done but in this case, they sound like a real lousy client to have and I wouldn't start playing nice with them until there is some respect for your services.

Good luck with it.

 

[Sumaleth]

Re Installatron:

The current version installed by Installatron is 2.6.5, and it supports upgrading to that version from 1.2.2. If you're not seeing upgrade as an option it means either that versions newer than 2.3.0 are not compatible with the server configuration, or more likely the administrator hasn't updated Installatron in a long time. For the latter, you could ask the server administrator to update Installatron, and you should be able to one-click upgrade to the latest version.

Rowan
@Installatron

 

[neweb]

Jennifer
I would not even entertain an update until you have received 100% payment for the work you have done up to now.

I would also use the fact that they are using an older version of WordPress which is more prone to attack as the newer version fixes known issues.
You need to set guidelines for payments. Give the client a deadline and stick to it.

For example. I invoiced a client 2 months ago. A very good customer who has been with me for years.
Up to last week I still had not recived payment from them for the work done. I sent a polite, direct and simple email.

Dear X
You currently have x amount outstanding on your account. As this payment is now 60 days over due we have no other option but to suspend all services until payment has been made in full. This action will affect your email and website. Suspension will happen on the x day of x month if payment has not been received by the above date.

Remember, in business you have no friends. Don't pussyfoot around asking for your money, its yours your entitled to it.

 

[jennyrusks]

Thanks again everyone for replying.

No more Mrs Nice Guy, I'm sending the boys around with the baseball bats.