Refund Policy

Introduction

The International Journal of Clinical Anesthesia and Research (IJCAR) operates on an Open Access model funded through Article Processing Charges (APCs). This Refund Policy outlines conditions under which refunds may or may not be granted for APC payments, ensuring transparency and fairness for authors.

“Refunds are processed ethically and transparently, reflecting IJCAR’s commitment to author satisfaction and editorial accountability.”

Article Processing Charges (APCs)

APCs cover the cost of peer review management, online hosting, indexing, archiving, editorial support, and technical maintenance. Once a manuscript has completed these stages, partial or full refunds may not be applicable.

Refund Eligibility

Stage Refund Eligibility Condition
Before Peer Review 100% refund If author requests withdrawal within 3 days of submission and payment.
During Peer Review 75% refund If withdrawal occurs for justified ethical reasons before reviewer assignment completion.
After Acceptance but Before Publication 50% refund If publication process has started but the author retracts for a valid reason.
After Online Publication 0% refund Once an article is published, no refund can be issued due to irrevocable publication costs.

Grounds for Refund Approval

  • Duplicate payment due to transaction error.
  • Technical failure leading to unsuccessful article upload.
  • Payment processed for a withdrawn or rejected manuscript before production initiation.
  • Editorial error leading to duplicate publication.

Non-Refundable Circumstances

  • Author’s voluntary withdrawal after acceptance.
  • Publication delays outside the control of the publisher.
  • Disagreement over editorial decisions or peer review outcomes.
  • Retractions based on author misconduct or policy violations.
Important: Refunds are processed only after official review by the Accounts and Editorial Office.

Refund Process

  1. Submit a refund request via email to [email protected] within 14 days of the payment date.
  2. Attach proof of payment (transaction ID or receipt) and justification for refund.
  3. The Accounts Department reviews the request within 10 working days.
  4. Approved refunds are processed to the original payment source within 30 business days.

Currency and Transaction Fees

Refunds are processed in the same currency used for the original transaction. IJCAR is not responsible for fluctuations in exchange rates or third-party transaction charges during refund processing.

Editorial Discretion and Finality

The decision of the Editor-in-Chief and Accounts Department is final in all refund-related matters. Appeals may be submitted to [email protected] within seven (7) days of receiving the refund decision.

Force Majeure

IJCAR is not liable for delays or inability to process refunds due to unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters, political unrest, or banking system failures.

Ethical Compliance

IJCAR’s refund policy adheres to the ethical financial practices outlined by:

Contact Information

For refund-related queries:
Email: [email protected]
Alternate: [email protected]
Website: www.anesthesiaresjournal.com

Note: All refund cases are logged internally and periodically audited for financial transparency.

Source: Adapted from anesthesiaresjournal.com/refund-policy and harmonized with COPE, DOAJ, and ICMJE financial ethics standards.