Refund Policy

  • The Bulletin of Health Services Research strives to maintain transparency and fairness in all financial transactions related to manuscript submissions and publication services. This Refund Policy outlines the conditions under which refunds will be considered and processed, ensuring clarity for authors regarding fees associated with the submission and publication process.

    Scope of Refunds

    The following scenarios are covered by the refund policy:

    1. Submission Fees

      • Refund Eligibility: Submission fees are typically non-refundable once the manuscript has been submitted to the journal. However, in exceptional cases (e.g., technical errors during submission, submission of incorrect manuscript files, etc.), authors may request a refund. Requests must be made within 7 days of submission.

      • Non-Refundable: If the manuscript undergoes any editorial processing, such as screening, assignment of reviewers, or acceptance for peer review, the submission fee will be non-refundable.

    2. Peer Review Fees

      • Refund Eligibility: Peer review fees are refundable only under the following conditions:

        • If the manuscript is rejected during the initial screening process and no peer review is conducted.

        • If the peer review process is not initiated within 30 days of submission, authors may request a full refund.

      • Non-Refundable: If peer review has already commenced or if reviewers have already been assigned, the peer review fee will not be refunded.

    3. Article Processing Charges (APC) for Accepted Manuscripts

      • Refund Eligibility: The Article Processing Charge (APC) is applied once the manuscript has been accepted for publication. APC fees are non-refundable once the manuscript has passed peer review and is formally accepted.

      • Exception: If an article is accepted and the author decides to withdraw the article before the final publication (during the production stage), the author may be eligible for a partial refund of the APC, depending on the stage of production.

        • Partial Refund: Authors who withdraw their accepted manuscript before it has been typeset and finalized for publication may receive a partial refund, minus any editorial and production costs incurred up to that point.

    4. Print Fees

      • Refund Eligibility: If authors request to withdraw their article after the print version has been finalized but before the issue is released, a partial refund may be provided to cover only the difference between the pre-publication production costs and the print fee paid.

      • Non-Refundable: Once the print edition is released and the article has been distributed (whether physically or digitally), print fees are non-refundable.

    5. Reprints and Additional Copies

      • Refund Eligibility: Authors who request reprints or additional copies of their articles will be charged based on the print and shipping costs. Reprints and additional copies are non-refundable once the order has been processed.

    How to Request a Refund

    1. Submission
      Authors wishing to request a refund must submit their request in writing, including the following details:

      • Manuscript ID or reference number

      • Reason for the refund request

      • Any supporting documentation (e.g., proof of technical issues, withdrawal confirmation, etc.)

      • Contact information for processing the refund.

    2. Timeframe
      Refund requests must be made within 30 days of the payment date or manuscript submission. Any requests made after this period will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and approval is not guaranteed.

    3. Refund Processing
      Once the refund request is received, the editorial office will review it. If the request is deemed valid under the terms of this policy, the refund will be processed. Refunds will typically be issued within 30 days of approval.

    Conditions for Non-Refundability

    1. Manuscript Accepted and Published

      • Once a manuscript has been accepted and the article has been published (either online or in print), all associated fees are non-refundable.

    2. Failure to Respond to Review or Proofs

      • If the author fails to respond to reviewer comments or proof corrections within the provided timeframe, and the manuscript is published without their final approval, no refund will be issued.

    3. Incomplete or Inaccurate Information

      • If the refund request is based on inaccurate or incomplete information provided by the author, the refund may be denied.

    Refund Limitations

    • Refunds are only available for the specified fees associated with the submission and publication process, including submission fees, peer review fees, and APC. Any additional services or charges (e.g., reprints, additional copies, expedited services) are not refundable.