Refund Policy

The Journal of Pulmonology and Respiratory Research (JPRR) is an open access journal funded primarily through Article Processing Charges (APCs). This Refund Policy explains the conditions under which APCs may be refunded, ensuring transparency, fairness, and alignment with international publishing standards.

General Principle

APCs are applied to cover editorial, peer review, production, hosting, archiving, and indexing costs. Once paid, APCs are generally non-refundable. However, JPRR recognizes that exceptional circumstances may justify partial or full refunds.

When Refunds Are Applicable

  • Duplicate Payment: If the same APC has been paid more than once for the same manuscript, the excess payment will be refunded in full.
  • Technical Issues: If payment errors occur due to system or transaction problems, authors are eligible for reimbursement.
  • Withdrawal Before Peer Review: If authors withdraw their manuscript before peer review begins and after payment, a partial refund may be considered, minus administrative charges.
  • Editorial Rejection: If a manuscript is rejected by the Editor-in-Chief before peer review initiation, APCs will be refunded fully.

When Refunds Are Not Applicable

  • After Peer Review: If a manuscript undergoes peer review, APCs will not be refunded, regardless of outcome.
  • Post-Acceptance Withdrawal: No refunds will be provided if authors withdraw an accepted article.
  • Retractions: APCs are non-refundable if a published article is retracted due to author misconduct, plagiarism, or ethical violations.
  • Failure to Meet Author Responsibilities: Refunds will not be issued if delays or retractions are due to incomplete author compliance.

Partial Refunds

In specific cases where partial services have been rendered (e.g., initial editorial screening or plagiarism check completed), JPRR may issue a partial refund after deducting administrative and processing charges.

Refund Process

  1. Authors must submit a written refund request to the editorial office ([email protected]).
  2. Requests must include manuscript ID, payment receipt, and justification for refund.
  3. Refund requests are evaluated by the Finance and Editorial teams.
  4. Approved refunds are processed within 30 working days via the original payment method.

Currency and Transaction Charges

Refunds are issued in the original payment currency. Transaction fees or currency conversion charges may be deducted by banks or payment gateways, which are beyond JPRR’s control.

Special Circumstances

  • Publisher Error: If JPRR mistakenly charges APCs for exempt manuscripts (e.g., invited editorials), a full refund will be issued.
  • Waiver Approval: If a waiver request is approved after payment, the APC amount will be refunded accordingly.

Author Responsibilities

  • Ensure correctness of payment details before making transactions.
  • Submit waiver requests before completing payment.
  • Understand that APCs fund publication services, and refunds are exceptions, not entitlements.

FAQs

Can I get a refund if my article is rejected after peer review?

No. APCs are charged for editorial and review services, not guaranteed publication.

What if my article is retracted after publication?

No refunds are issued if articles are retracted due to author-related misconduct or ethical violations.

How long does it take to process a refund?

Refunds are processed within 30 working days once approved.

Conclusion

The Journal of Pulmonology and Respiratory Research (JPRR) maintains a transparent refund policy that balances fairness to authors with sustainability of open access publishing. Refunds are rare and processed only under clearly defined circumstances.