Refund Policy
The Journal of Advanced Pediatrics and Child Health (JAPCH) is committed to ethical, transparent, and fair practices in the management of Article Processing Charges (APCs) and refund requests.
1. Policy Overview
This Refund Policy outlines the conditions under which APC payments may be refunded. JAPCH ensures compliance with open-access publishing best practices and financial transparency guidelines defined by COPE, ICMJE, and DOAJ.
2. Non-Refundable Services
Article Processing Charges (APCs) cover editorial management, peer review coordination, DOI registration, copyediting, and online publication. As these services involve resource allocation and time investment, APCs are generally non-refundable once the manuscript enters the review or production process.
3. Refund Eligibility
Refunds are considered only under specific circumstances as outlined below:
| Scenario | Refund Eligibility | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate Payment | ✔ Full Refund | Processed upon verification within 10 business days. |
| Technical Error (e.g., double charge) | ✔ Full Refund | Refund processed after transaction validation. |
| Author Withdrawal before Peer Review | ✔ Partial Refund | Subject to administrative fee deduction. |
| Manuscript Rejection after Peer Review | ✖ Not Refundable | Peer review and editorial costs already incurred. |
| Withdrawal during Production | ✖ Not Refundable | Significant editorial and layout resources consumed. |
| Journal Error (e.g., accidental publication) | ✔ Full Refund | Applicable only in confirmed internal error cases. |
4. Author-Initiated Refunds
Authors requesting a refund must submit a formal email to the editorial office containing:
- Full name and contact details.
- Manuscript title and reference ID.
- Proof of payment (invoice or transaction ID).
- Reason for the refund request.
Requests must be submitted within 30 days of payment. Refunds are not guaranteed and depend on the status of the manuscript in the editorial workflow.
5. Refund Procedure
The refund process follows these steps:
- Receipt of written request and verification of payment.
- Internal review by the Finance and Editorial teams.
- Approval or denial based on eligibility criteria.
- Refund processing to the original payment source within 10–15 business days after approval.
6. Administrative Fees
Where applicable, administrative fees may be deducted to cover transaction processing and communication costs. The standard deduction ranges from 15% to 25% of the total APC.
7. Refund Denial Conditions
- Post-acceptance withdrawal without editorial approval.
- Rejection after full peer review completion.
- Delays caused by authors during proofing or revision stages.
- Misrepresentation or incomplete refund request details.
8. Ethical and Legal Considerations
All financial transactions comply with global financial standards and anti-fraud regulations. The journal maintains confidentiality of author payment details and ensures compliance with GDPR and data protection laws.
9. Dispute Resolution
Any disputes regarding APC refunds are handled by the Editorial Board and Finance Department jointly. Authors may appeal decisions with additional documentation for reconsideration. Final decisions are communicated within 15 business days.
10. Contact for Refund Requests
All refund communications should be directed to:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.pediatricshealthjournal.com
11. Financial Transparency
JAPCH maintains a clear and transparent record of all APC payments, refund transactions, and waiver approvals. The journal’s financial processes are audited annually to ensure compliance with open-access publishing ethics.