Website development and fixing bugs

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Technofreak

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#88745 22-Aug-2011 23:11

Firstly I'm not sure this is exactly the correct forum but I couldn't find a better place to put this.

My question is this.

After paying to have a website built, would you expect to have to pay for any bugs to be fixed once the site goes live?

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redjet

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#510217 22-Aug-2011 23:39

Do the issues affect the functionality of the website or are they more cosmetic? Also did you raise these issues prior to the site going live/paying for it?

I think most people would expect any legitimate bugs to be fixed. However I suppose it really depends on if you have a contract or some other sort of agreement that specifically mentions bug fixes and support.

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mattwnz

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#510228 23-Aug-2011 00:55

Technofreak: Firstly I'm not sure this is exactly the correct forum but I couldn't find a better place to put this.

My question is this. ?

After paying to have a website built, would you expect to have to pay for any bugs to be fixed once the site goes live?

All CMS/shopping carts etc have some bugs. But as a client you should have gone through it fully before paying hte final account, to make sure there is nothing that is going to affect the running of it. CMSs often have bug fixes and patches, as well as new features, which you developer would apply for a fee. Some CMS will automatically update themselves, so you don't need the developer to do it for you.

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#510246 23-Aug-2011 06:58

It depends on the contract, but as posted...

Once you have accepted it, then most bugs would go into maintenance. Of course the contract would cover this kind of things, saying that for a specific period of time after acceptance bugs would be squashed ("warranty").

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Technofreak

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#510470 23-Aug-2011 11:15

redjet: Do the issues affect the functionality of the website or are they more cosmetic? Also did you raise these issues prior to the site going live/paying for it?

I think most people would expect any legitimate bugs to be fixed. However I suppose it really depends on if you have a contract or some other sort of agreement that specifically mentions bug fixes and support.

The bugs did affect functionality, some of it front end as seen by the public and and some back end as used for admin. These bugs were notified just prior to and just after launch. For example some issues were to do with browser compatibility, primarily not working properly with I.E.

The type of website means that it's not possible to test everything prior to launch. We haven't actually signed off on it so to speak. The current issue we have is being charged for fixing bugs noticed during the launch phase.

The contract only specifies that bugs will be fixed promptly but also with a clause saying there is no liability for any losses incurred as a result of bugs. The inference as I read it is the bugs will be fixed for free as because of the fact that there is a clause requiring the bugs to be fixed promptly. Others may not agree with my interpretation on this.

We haven't paid the final account and we haven't signed off on the site. However when we queried the account we were told that fixing bugs is extra.

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danielm8

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#510499 23-Aug-2011 11:49

When I develop a website, I always leave it up to the website's (proud new) owner to decide whether the bugs are worth paying for - if I built the website (and done it wrong), then the bugs are my fault and it's my responsibility to fix them. Although, be careful of the distinction between bugs and features that aren't there that you expected - it's not the programmers fault if he can't read your mind and decide exactly how you want it. But Yes, I believe bugs that occur straight after development should NOT be paid for. Also consider if it's been some time since he done it, consider that he's moved on from your project some time ago and it feels like he's coming back for a second project now with the bug fixes.

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Technofreak

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#510515 23-Aug-2011 11:59

danielm8: Also consider if it's been some time since he done it, consider that he's moved on from your project some time ago and it feels like he's coming back for a second project now with the bug fixes.

This is certainly not the case here.

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redjet

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#510538 23-Aug-2011 12:31

It sounds like a tricky situation but really does come down to the contract. If there is a clause saying that bugs will be fixed promptly then you should highlight that to them and seriously consider withholding any further payments until they are fixed to your satisfaction. If the dispute is whether they are bugs or enhancements then that becomes a bit of a grey area unfortunately.

Do you have a list of requirements that they accepted? If so, are there bugs within these documented requirements?

Also in regards to IE compatibility - is it a particular version of IE that is causing problems?

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Zeon

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#510613 23-Aug-2011 13:54

When I build websites I stipulate very clearly in any contract that it will be built to a certain web standard. Problems with IE displaying etc. aren't actually bugs in the site but rather bugs with IE. Most customers usually say they are happy with following web standards as IE8+ is fairly good which most people are using. Any IE bugs I've got to hack a site to support usually come under a seperate contract/statement of work.

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Ragnor

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#510640 23-Aug-2011 14:29

+1 comes down to what's in the contract. Out of interest would you be willing to blank out confidential and personal info and post the doc?

Anyway...
For next time here's my advice on two clauses you should make sure are in the contract. It's usually good to have these two things in every contact, they actually protect the client and the developer... so it's good business:

- A 30 day warranty period, ie: the developer will fix all reported and reproducible bugs found within 30 working days after launch
- A clear definition of what constitutes a bug/fault and what constitutes a change in functionality.

ie: You don't pay for bugs found within 30 workings days, you do pay for functionality changes.

mattwnz

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#510777 23-Aug-2011 17:04

Yes it does depend on the contract. If the contract was just an hourly rate for the amount of time they spent, then I think they can charge for fixing bugs.