Refund Policy

The Clinical and Health Research Exploration journal values its authors, subscribers, and readers and aims to provide transparent and fair procedures related to financial transactions. This Refund Policy outlines the conditions under which refunds will be considered for services related to article submissions, publication fees, or any other paid services associated with the journal.

2. Scope of the Refund Policy:

This policy applies to all financial transactions made through the Clinical and Health Research Exploration journal platform, including but not limited to:

  • Article submission fees

  • Publication fees

  • Fees for print copies or special requests

  • Fees for additional services such as expedited peer review, open access fees, etc.

3. Refund Eligibility Criteria:

Refunds will be considered under the following circumstances:

  • Duplicate Payment: If a payment is made multiple times for the same service (e.g., duplicate submission or publication fee), a full refund will be issued for the duplicate payment once identified.

  • Payment Errors: If a payment error occurs on the journal's platform or an overpayment is made, the journal will issue a refund for the incorrect amount.

  • Rejection of Manuscript: If the manuscript is rejected before peer review or during the initial editorial screening (for reasons such as failure to meet submission guidelines, scope, or quality standards), the submission fee will be refunded in full. However, this applies only if the rejection occurs before the manuscript undergoes peer review.

  • Withdrawal of Manuscript: If the author decides to withdraw their manuscript before it has been sent out for peer review, a partial refund of the submission fee may be granted. A processing fee (up to 20% of the submission fee) will be deducted to cover administrative costs.

  • Payment for Printed Copies: If the printed copies requested by the author are not delivered within the specified timeframe or are damaged upon arrival, a refund for the print order may be issued or a replacement copy may be sent.

4. Non-Refundable Services:

The following services are non-refundable:

  • Publication Fees: Once an article has been accepted for publication and the editorial process has started, publication fees (including those for open access) are non-refundable. This includes instances where the article is later retracted or withdrawn by the author after acceptance.

  • Peer Review Fees: If the manuscript has already entered the peer review process, no refund will be issued for the peer review fees, even if the manuscript is ultimately rejected or withdrawn by the author.

  • Late or Expedited Fees: Fees for expedited peer review or other expedited services are non-refundable once the service has been initiated.

  • Processing Fees: Any administrative or transaction fees related to payment processing, submission handling, or services already rendered are non-refundable.

5. Refund Process:

  • Request for Refund: To request a refund, the author or requester must contact the editorial office via email at [editor@chre.online] or through the contact form on the journal’s website. The request must include the following:

    • Proof of payment (receipt, transaction ID, or invoice)

    • Reason for the refund request

    • Relevant manuscript or transaction details

  • Processing Time: All refund requests will be reviewed within 10 business days of receipt. Once approved, refunds will typically be processed within 14 business days. Refunds will be issued via the original payment method.

  • Refund Amount: The refund amount will be calculated based on the eligibility criteria outlined in this policy. Processing or administrative fees may apply, depending on the nature of the refund request.

6. Circumstances for Non-Refundable Decisions:

Refunds will not be issued in the following cases:

  • If the manuscript has been accepted for publication and the publication process has begun.

  • If the manuscript is withdrawn after the peer review process has commenced.

  • If the requester changes their mind or decides not to proceed with the publication for reasons unrelated to the journal's processes (e.g., personal reasons, competing publication decisions).

  • If a submission was delayed due to author or third-party errors (e.g., incorrect information, submission errors, or delays in manuscript revision).

7. Exceptions:

The journal reserves the right to make exceptions to the refund policy on a case-by-case basis in extenuating circumstances. Any decisions regarding exceptions will be at the discretion of the editorial team and will be made based on fairness, transparency, and academic integrity.