International Journal of Social Sciences and Management Research (IJSSMR) ensures a fair and transparent approach to handling refund requests related to manuscript processing and publication fees. The following guidelines outline the conditions under which refunds will be considered:
Refund for Manuscript Processing Fees:
Before Peer Review:
If the manuscript has been submitted but not yet assigned to reviewers, authors may request a full refund of the manuscript processing fee. A refund will be processed within 14 working days from the receipt of the withdrawal request.
After Peer Review:
If the manuscript has been assigned to reviewers or is in the peer review process, no refund will be issued. This is because significant editorial work and resources have already been allocated to the review process.
After Acceptance:
No refunds will be issued for manuscripts that have been accepted for publication, as the editorial and production processes have already begun.
Refund for Publication Fees:
Before Final Publication:
If the manuscript has been accepted but the author decides to withdraw it before the final publication stage (including pre-publication proofs), a partial refund may be issued. The refund amount will depend on the stage of the publication process and any costs already incurred by the journal.
After Publication:
No refund will be issued for articles that have been published, whether in print or online. Once an article is publicly available, it is considered part of the journal’s permanent archive.
Conditions for Refund Requests:
Refunds will only be considered if:
The withdrawal request is submitted within a reasonable time frame.
The withdrawal is based on legitimate reasons, such as technical issues or errors in the manuscript processing system.
The manuscript has not yet reached a stage where costs for editorial, peer review, or production services have been fully incurred.
Requests for a refund must be submitted in writing via email to the editorial team, providing a clear explanation for the withdrawal or refund request.
Non-refundable Services:
The following services are non-refundable:
Administrative fees
Fees related to manuscript formatting, proofreading, or typesetting
Fees paid for supplementary services, such as expedited publication or additional promotional services
Refund Processing:
If a refund is approved, it will be processed through the original payment method used by the author. Refunds will be issued within 14 working days, and the journal reserves the right to deduct any applicable administrative or service charges.
Exceptional Circumstances:
In exceptional circumstances, such as unforeseen financial difficulties or errors on the part of the journal, refunds may be considered on a case-by-case basis. The editorial board will review such requests and make decisions accordingly.
