Refund Policy

1. Introduction

Trends in Biosciences Research strives to maintain transparency and fairness in all financial transactions. This Refund Policy outlines the conditions under which refunds for article processing charges (APC) or other fees related to the publication process may be requested, as well as the procedure for refund requests.

2. Article Processing Charges (APC)

Trends in Biosciences Research charges an Article Processing Charge (APC) for the publication of accepted manuscripts. This fee supports the journal’s operations, including peer review, editorial management, production, and open-access dissemination of articles.

3. Refund Conditions

Refunds will only be considered under the following circumstances:

  • Duplicate Payment: If the author has made a duplicate payment for the APC, the excess amount will be refunded. Proof of the duplicate payment must be provided for verification.

  • Rejection Before Peer Review: If a manuscript is rejected before the peer review process begins (i.e., during the initial submission or screening), the full APC will be refunded to the author.

  • Manuscript Withdrawal Before Peer Review: If the author withdraws the manuscript before it enters the peer review process, a full refund of the APC will be issued. However, an administrative fee may be deducted to cover any processing costs incurred prior to withdrawal.

  • Manuscript Withdrawal During Peer Review: If the manuscript is withdrawn during the peer review process and before a final decision is made, a partial refund of the APC may be issued. The refund amount will be determined based on the stage at which the manuscript is withdrawn and the amount of work completed by the editorial team and reviewers.

  • Rejection After Peer Review: If the manuscript is rejected after completing the peer review process but before acceptance, no refund will be issued. The APC will not be refunded in this case.

4. Non-Refundable Situations

Refunds will not be issued in the following situations:

  • Post-Acceptance Withdrawal: Once the manuscript is accepted for publication and the APC is paid, no refund will be provided if the author later decides to withdraw the manuscript.

  • Failure to Follow Submission Guidelines: If a manuscript is rejected or withdrawn due to failure to comply with submission guidelines, formatting requirements, or other administrative issues, no refund will be issued.

  • After Publication: Once the manuscript is published online or in print, no refund will be provided, regardless of whether the author requests to retract or withdraw the article.

5. Refund Request Procedure

To request a refund, authors must submit a written request to the editorial office at [insert contact email], detailing the reason for the refund request. The request should include:

  • The title of the manuscript
  • The submission ID or reference number
  • The reason for the refund request
  • Proof of payment (e.g., transaction receipt)

Refund requests will be reviewed by the editorial team, and a decision will be communicated to the author within 10–15 business days.

6. Processing Time

If a refund is approved, it will be processed within 30 business days. Refunds will be issued through the same payment method used for the original transaction (e.g., credit card, PayPal, bank transfer).

7. Administrative Fees

In some cases, such as manuscript withdrawal before or during peer review, an administrative fee may be deducted from the refund amount to cover processing costs incurred.

8. Currency and Payment Method

Refunds will be issued in the same currency and through the same payment method as the original payment. If a refund is issued through PayPal or credit card, the amount will be credited back to the original payment source.

9. Exceptional Cases

In exceptional cases not covered by this policy, the editorial team will review the circumstances on a case-by-case basis. Authors are encouraged to contact the editorial office if they believe their situation requires special consideration.

10. Policy Review

This Refund Policy will be reviewed periodically and updated as necessary. Any significant changes to this policy will be communicated to authors in a timely manner.