Refund Policy

The Holistic Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Innovation (HJMRI) aims to provide clear and transparent guidelines regarding its refund policy. This policy governs the circumstances under which authors may be eligible for a refund of any fees paid to the journal for publication, processing, or other services.

Key Components of the Refund Policy:

1. Non-Refundable Publication Fees
   Once the publication fee has been paid and the manuscript has passed the initial stages of review (e.g., peer review or acceptance), the payment is considered non-refundable. This includes cases where the manuscript is withdrawn after acceptance or during the production process. The journal invests significant resources into the peer review, editing, and production processes, which makes the fees non-refundable after acceptance.

2. Refund Eligibility for Withdrawal Before Acceptance
   If an author decides to withdraw their manuscript before acceptance or during the peer review process, a partial refund may be issued, depending on the stage of the submission. The refund will be processed based on the following conditions:

   • Full Refund: If the manuscript has not been processed (i.e., has not been sent for peer review or editorial work), the full publication fee may be refunded.

   • Partial Refund: If the manuscript has undergone partial editorial or peer review work, a partial refund may be granted, depending on the effort invested at that stage.

3. Refund for Technical Errors
   If the journal is unable to proceed with the manuscript due to technical errors on the platform or a failure to meet submission guidelines, the journal will issue a full refund for any fees paid. This does not apply to cases where the manuscript does not meet the journal’s editorial standards or requirements.

4. Refund for Ethical Violations or Misconduct
   In cases where an author is found to have violated ethical guidelines (e.g., plagiarism, falsification of data, or conflicts of interest) or engaged in research misconduct after payment, the journal may reject the manuscript or remove it from publication. In such cases, no refund will be issued.

5. Refund for Duplicate Submissions
   If a manuscript is found to be a duplicate submission (i.e., already submitted or accepted elsewhere), the manuscript will be withdrawn from consideration, and the journal will retain the publication fee. No refund will be issued under these circumstances.

6. Refund for Unpublished Manuscripts
   If the manuscript is rejected after peer review or during the editorial process, the publication fee is non-refundable. Rejection due to issues such as poor quality, insufficient originality, or failure to meet submission standards does not qualify for a refund.

7. Refund Request Process

   • Authors requesting a refund must do so in writing via email to the editorial team, explaining the reason for the request.

   • All refund requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the stage of the manuscript and the work already done on it.

   • Authors will be notified of the decision regarding their refund request within a reasonable period.

8. Refund for Journal Services (Other Than Publication Fees)
   In cases where authors or institutions have paid for other services (such as expedited review, supplementary services, or additional copies), refunds may be available under the terms of the specific service agreement. Refunds for services rendered will be subject to the terms agreed upon at the time of payment.