Refund Policy

Overview

The Journal of Addiction Therapy and Research (JATR) is an open-access publication that sustains operations through Article Processing Charges (APCs). This Refund Policy ensures fairness and transparency for authors regarding APC payments, cancellations, and partial refunds.

When Refunds Are Applicable

Refunds may be approved under the following legitimate conditions:

• Duplicate payment: If the author accidentally pays twice for the same manuscript.
• Technical error: If payment is processed due to a system malfunction or banking error.
• Early withdrawal: If the author withdraws the manuscript before peer review begins.
• Editorial rejection before review: If the article is found unsuitable prior to external peer review.

In all cases, authors must submit a written refund request within 30 days of the transaction.

Non-Refundable Situations

Refunds are not applicable in the following situations:

• Manuscripts rejected after peer review or editorial assessment.
• Withdrawals requested after acceptance or during production.
• Publication completed and DOI assigned.
• Delays caused by authors’ late responses or failure to revise.

As per COPE and DOAJ policies, once significant editorial and technical services are rendered, APCs are non-refundable.

Partial Refunds and Adjustments

In specific justified cases, partial refunds may be granted, particularly when:

• Manuscript withdrawal occurs after peer review but before acceptance.
• Authors identify billing discrepancies or currency conversion errors.
• Institutional or funding payment issues arise and are documented.

Partial refunds typically range between 30–50% of the total APC amount depending on editorial effort completed.

Refund Request Process

1. Submit a refund request by email to [email protected].
2. Include transaction details, invoice number, manuscript ID, and justification.
3. The finance team verifies eligibility within 7 business days.
4. Approved refunds are processed via the same payment method within 15 business days.

All refund transactions are documented for auditing and COPE compliance.

Banking and Transaction Charges

All refunds are subject to standard transaction fees charged by the payment gateway or bank. Authors are responsible for any deduction or currency conversion fees incurred during refund processing.

Institutional and Sponsored Payments

If the APC was paid by an institution or funding body, refunds are issued to the same payer account upon proper documentation. No refunds are made directly to individual authors when payment originated from institutional funds.

Force Majeure and Editorial Discretion

In extraordinary events beyond the journal’s control—such as natural disasters, political unrest, or payment gateway disruptions—refund decisions may be delayed or adjusted at the discretion of the publisher.

Heighten Science Publications Inc. retains the right to modify refund decisions in line with COPE and GDPR data-handling principles.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)