Refund Policy
The Journal of Novel Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation (JNPR) operates under a Gold Open Access model, funded through Article Processing Charges (APCs). As APCs support the editorial, peer review, production, indexing, and long-term archiving services, refunds are provided only under specific conditions. This Refund Policy ensures transparency, fairness, and accountability in financial transactions with authors and institutions.
General Principles
- APCs are charged only after a manuscript has been accepted following peer review.
- APCs are non-refundable once the article has been published online.
- Refunds, where applicable, are processed within 30 business days of approval.
- Refunds are transferred to the original payment source (institution, author, or funding body).
Eligible Refund Scenarios
- Duplicate Payment: If an author or institution makes a duplicate APC payment, the additional amount will be refunded.
- System/Technical Errors: If technical errors (e.g., payment gateway malfunction) result in failed transactions, refunds are initiated.
- Rejection Post-Payment: In rare cases where a manuscript is inadvertently charged before final acceptance and is subsequently rejected, the payment will be refunded.
- Withdrawal Before Acceptance: If authors withdraw a manuscript before acceptance and have already made payment due to administrative error, a full refund will be issued.
Non-Refundable Scenarios
- Once an article is published online, APCs cannot be refunded.
- Withdrawal of manuscripts after acceptance does not qualify for refund, unless due to ethical or editorial errors attributable to the journal.
- Failure to comply with submission guidelines or misconduct by authors (e.g., plagiarism) leading to rejection is not eligible for refund.
Partial Refunds
In exceptional circumstances, JNPR may issue partial refunds. For example, if services were only partially rendered due to journal error, the editorial office may authorize a partial reimbursement after internal review.
Processing and Timeline
- Refund requests must be submitted in writing to [email protected].
- Requests must include proof of payment and justification for refund.
- All refund requests are reviewed by the editorial and finance departments.
- Approved refunds are processed within 30 business days.
Dispute Resolution
Any disputes regarding APC refunds are resolved according to COPE’s ethical publishing practices and institutional guidelines. Authors may appeal directly to the editor-in-chief if unsatisfied with the decision.
Institutional and Funding Agency Payments
Where APCs are paid by an institution or funding body, refunds will be issued directly to the paying entity. Refunds will not be redirected to authors unless accompanied by formal institutional approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I request a refund if I withdraw my article after acceptance?
No. APCs cover editorial and production costs. Withdrawal after acceptance does not qualify for refund unless the withdrawal is due to journal error.
Are APC refunds available if an article is retracted?
No. Retractions due to ethical breaches, plagiarism, or author error do not qualify for refunds. However, if the retraction results from publisher or editorial error, refunds may be considered.
What if my institution accidentally pays twice?
Duplicate payments are fully refundable once confirmed by the finance team.
Does JNPR offer fee waivers instead of refunds?
Yes. In some cases, rather than a cash refund, JNPR may offer waiver credits for future submissions.