Refund Policy

At Aafaq-e-Tahqeeq, we strive to provide transparency and fairness in all aspects of our publication process. This Refund Policy outlines the circumstances under which refunds will be considered and the procedures for obtaining a refund for services or fees related to the journal's publication.

Key Aspects of the Refund Policy:

1. Publication Fees:

Aafaq-e-Tahqeeq may charge authors publication fees to cover costs related to the processing, editing, and online publication of articles. These fees are clearly communicated to authors at the time of submission and before the manuscript is accepted for publication.

  • Publication fees are non-refundable once the manuscript has been accepted for publication and editorial work has begun. This includes the processing, editing, and formatting stages of the publication process.

2. Refund Eligibility:

Refunds for publication fees may be considered in the following situations:

  • Withdrawal Before Acceptance: If an author decides to withdraw their manuscript before the journal accepts it for publication, and no editorial work has been done, a full refund of the publication fee may be granted.

  • Non-Publication: If the manuscript is rejected after acceptance or the journal decides not to publish it for any reason, the author may be eligible for a refund of the publication fee.

  • Duplicate Submission: If an author inadvertently submits the same manuscript to multiple journals (including Aafaq-e-Tahqeeq) and the article is withdrawn before acceptance, the publication fee may be refunded.

3. Refund Procedure:

  • Request for Refund: To request a refund, the author must submit a formal, written request to the editorial team, clearly stating the reason for the refund and providing any supporting documentation.

  • Processing Time: Refund requests will be reviewed by the editorial team. The team will evaluate the request based on the stage of the publication process and the eligibility criteria outlined above. The refund process may take 7-10 business days from the date the request is received.

  • Method of Refund: Refunds will be issued via the same payment method used to pay the publication fee. If the original payment method is no longer available, the journal will work with the author to find an alternative refund method.

4. Non-Refundable Situations:

The following circumstances are not eligible for a refund:

  • Post-Acceptance Withdrawal: If an article is withdrawn by the author after it has been accepted for publication, the publication fee is non-refundable. This includes cases where the author decides not to proceed with the publication after acceptance.

  • Ethical Violations: If an article is retracted or removed due to ethical violations such as plagiarism or data falsification, the publication fee will not be refunded. The journal will issue a retraction notice, but the fee remains non-refundable.

  • Failure to Submit Revisions: If an author fails to submit the required revisions by the agreed-upon deadline, the manuscript may be rejected, and the publication fee will not be refunded.

5. Special Cases for Refunds:

  • Payment Errors: In the case of an error in payment processing (e.g., double payment or overpayment), a refund will be issued for the excess amount.

  • Journal Cancellations: If Aafaq-e-Tahqeeq is unable to publish a manuscript due to unforeseen circumstances (such as closure of the journal or technical issues), the journal will provide a full refund to the author.

6. Refunds for Institutional/Corporate Subscriptions:

  • For institutional or corporate subscriptions to the journal, refunds will only be considered under exceptional circumstances, such as the termination of the subscription service or failure to provide access to the journal's content.

7. No Refund for Services Outside of Publication Fees:

  • Additional Services: Any additional services such as translation, language editing, or graphic design that are requested by the author are not subject to refund. Once these services are initiated, they are non-refundable.

8. Final Decision on Refunds:

  • The final decision regarding refund eligibility rests with the editorial team, who will assess each request on a case-by-case basis according to the circumstances outlined in this policy.

  • Refund decisions are made with fairness and transparency, ensuring that authors are treated with respect while also maintaining the journal's financial and operational integrity.