The Journal of Clinical Advances in Dentistry (JCAD) maintains a transparent and fair refund policy regarding Article Processing Charges (APCs). As an open access journal, APCs support peer review, editorial management, digital hosting, indexing, archiving, and long-term preservation. Once paid, APCs are generally non-refundable, with exceptions outlined below.

Non-Refundable Cases

APCs are non-refundable in the following cases:

• Manuscript rejection after peer review
• Withdrawal by authors after acceptance
• Delays caused by authors (e.g., incomplete revisions, failure to respond)
• Duplicate submissions or misconduct resulting in rejection

Refundable Cases

Full or partial refunds may be granted under exceptional circumstances:

• Duplicate Payment: If authors are charged more than once for the same article
• System Error: If payment was processed incorrectly due to technical faults
• Publisher Error: If the article cannot be published due to unforeseen editorial or system issues
• Article Withdrawal (Before Peer Review): If withdrawal is requested before review begins

Refund Procedure

To initiate a refund request:

1. Contact the editorial office at [email protected]
2. Provide payment details, article ID, and reason for request
3. The finance team will review the request within 15 business days
4. Approved refunds are processed within 30 business days

Partial Refunds

In some cases, partial refunds may apply where editorial or peer review work has already been completed. Refund amounts depend on the stage of processing:

Chargebacks

Chargebacks through banks or credit card providers are strongly discouraged. Authors are expected to resolve refund concerns directly with the journal’s finance office.

Third-Party Payments

If APCs are paid by institutions, funders, or agencies, refund requests must be submitted by the paying entity.

FAQs

Can I request a refund if my article is rejected?

No, APCs are charged only after acceptance. If paid early by error, a refund will be considered.

How long do refunds take?

Approved refunds are processed within 30 business days.

What if I withdraw before peer review?

You may be eligible for a full refund if withdrawal occurs before peer review begins.