Refund Policy

Refund Policy for Frontiers in Agriculture

Frontiers in Agriculture is dedicated to providing high-quality publishing services for all authors, ensuring a smooth and professional experience throughout the submission and publication process. This Refund Policy outlines the circumstances under which a refund may be granted for any charges related to the submission or publication of manuscripts.

1. Article Processing Charges (APC)

Frontiers in Agriculture operates as an open-access journal, and authors are required to pay an Article Processing Charge (APC) once their manuscript has been accepted for publication. The APC covers the costs of peer review, editing, production, and maintaining the journal's open-access platform.

2. Refund Eligibility

Refunds will only be considered under the following specific conditions:

  • Pre-Acceptance Stage:

    • Error in Billing: If the author has been incorrectly charged the APC (e.g., due to a technical error), a full refund will be issued.
    • Withdrawal Before Peer Review: If the manuscript is withdrawn by the author before the peer review process begins, the APC payment will be refunded in full, minus any applicable transaction fees.

  • Post-Acceptance Stage (Before Publication):

    • Manuscript Withdrawal After Acceptance: If the manuscript is withdrawn by the author after acceptance but before publication, no refund will be issued, as substantial editorial and production costs have already been incurred.
    • Duplicate Submission: If the manuscript is withdrawn due to simultaneous submission to another journal, and the journal has not yet entered the production process, the APC may be refunded, minus any applicable administrative fees.

  • Post-Publication Stage:

    • Once an article has been published online or in a print issue, no refunds will be issued under any circumstances. This policy is in place to maintain the integrity of the publication process and the academic record.

3. Exceptional Circumstances for Refund

In exceptional cases, such as a technical issue preventing the manuscript from being published, or if the journal is unable to publish the manuscript for reasons beyond the author's control, a refund may be considered at the discretion of the editorial team. Authors are encouraged to contact the editorial office to discuss the situation.

4. Refund Process

  • Step 1: Request: To request a refund, authors must contact the editorial office in writing (via email or through the submission system) within a reasonable period from the point at which they wish to withdraw their manuscript or report a billing issue.

  • Step 2: Evaluation: The editorial office will review the request and determine whether it meets the criteria for a refund. This may involve reviewing submission records, billing information, and the stage of the publication process.

  • Step 3: Confirmation: If the request is approved, a refund will be processed within 30 days. Refunds will be issued via the same method used for payment (e.g., credit card, bank transfer) or to the same account. In the case of a payment error, the journal will issue a refund as soon as the issue is rectified.

5. Non-Refundable Fees

The following charges are non-refundable:

  • APC for Accepted Manuscripts: Once a manuscript has been accepted for publication, the associated APC is non-refundable, except in cases outlined in section 2.
  • Transaction Fees: Any transaction fees imposed by payment processing platforms are non-refundable, even in cases where the journal issues a refund for the APC.
  • Administrative Fees for Late Withdrawals: In cases where a manuscript is withdrawn after acceptance or after it has entered production, the editorial team may charge an administrative fee to cover the work already completed, which will not be refunded.

6. Handling of Refund Requests

  • Timeliness: Refund requests must be made within 30 days of the original payment date, or within 30 days of the withdrawal request (whichever is applicable). Requests made after this time frame may not be considered.

  • Disputes: If there is a dispute regarding the refund, the author can contact the editorial office for clarification and resolution. The decision made by the editorial office will be final.

7. Updates to the Policy

Frontiers in Agriculture reserves the right to update or amend this Refund Policy as necessary. Any changes to the policy will be communicated to authors and made available on the journal's website.