Revisions Included on Every Project
Refund and Cancellation Policy
Every project has a written scope agreed before you pay. If a deliverable does not meet it, we correct it. Where correction is not the right answer, refunds are proportionate to the work not delivered and can be requested for 30 days after final delivery.
Last updated: August 2026
Scope in Writing
Agreed before you pay, and the standard the work is held to
Dates Agreed Up Front
Told early if anything is at risk
Revisions Included
We correct anything that misses the agreed scope
Proportionate Refunds
Calculated on the work not delivered
Section 1
How We Stand Behind the Work
- Every project is defined by a written scope agreed before you pay: the research question, the databases, the deliverables, and the delivery date. That document is the standard the work is measured against.
- If a deliverable does not meet that scope, our first step is always to correct it. This is deliberate. You came to us for a finished piece of research, and a completed deliverable serves you far better than your money back and nothing to submit.
- Where correction is genuinely not the right answer, a refund is available on the terms set out below.
- We do not guarantee academic outcomes. Journal acceptance, supervisor approval, committee decisions, and grades rest with those bodies, not with us. What we commit to is methodology, reporting, and analysis that meet the standards of PRISMA 2020, the Cochrane Handbook, and JBI guidance.
Section 2
Delivery Dates
- Your final delivery date is agreed in writing before work begins and confirmed in your order. We treat it as a commitment and tell you promptly if any milestone is at risk.
- If we miss the agreed final delivery date for reasons within our control, you choose the remedy: we agree a revised date, or you end the project and are refunded for the portion of work not yet delivered.
- This applies to the final delivery date rather than to intermediate milestones, which can move as a project develops.
- Where a delay is caused by something neither party controls, such as a database outage or a loss of institutional access, we notify you and agree a revised timeline. Where a delay is caused by materials, data, or feedback we are waiting on from you, the delivery date moves by the length of that wait.
Section 3
If the Work Falls Short
- Revisions are included on every project. If any part of the deliverable does not meet the agreed scope, tell us and we will put it right at no additional cost.
- Each revision round is addressed within 3 to 5 business days, depending on the scope of the changes requested.
- Requests that go beyond the agreed scope, such as adding databases, widening the research question, or adding an analysis that was not quoted, are welcome. They are handled as an addition to the project and quoted separately rather than as a revision.
- If the work still does not meet the agreed scope after we have had a fair opportunity to correct it, contact us and we will agree a proportionate refund for the part that falls short.
Section 4
Refund Window: 30 Days After Delivery
- Refund requests must be submitted within 30 days of the date your final deliverable is sent. After that, the work is treated as accepted.
- Thirty days is time to read the full deliverable, ask for revisions, share it with your supervisor or co-authors, and raise any concern about quality or scope.
- The window applies to refunds only. Revision support does not stop at 30 days: if your reviewers or your committee ask for changes later, we revise the work within its agreed scope at no additional charge.
- Raise a concern as soon as you have one. Almost everything is quicker to fix than to unwind, and a concern raised early is usually resolved inside a single revision round.
Section 5
Raising a Concern or Requesting a Refund
- Start by emailing hello@researchgold.org with your order number and a short description of what is wrong. In most cases we can correct the deliverable faster than any refund could be processed.
- If you want to request a refund rather than a correction, use the subject line "Refund Request", include your order number, and tell us which part of the agreed scope you believe has not been met.
- We respond to refund requests within 24 hours on business days, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM Central Time.
- We review each request on its facts against the written scope and the project record, and we tell you the outcome and the reasoning in writing.
Section 6
Refund Processing
- Approved refunds are processed within 5-7 business days and returned to your original payment method.
- You will receive an email confirmation with a transaction reference number once the refund has been issued.
- Depending on your bank or payment provider, it may take an additional 3-5 business days for the refund to appear in your account after we process it.
- If you do not see the refund in your account after 10 business days from our confirmation email, please contact us and we will investigate immediately.
Section 7
How Refund Amounts Are Calculated
- Refunds are proportionate. They cover the part of the agreed scope that was not delivered, rather than the whole project fee, because research work that has been carried out cannot be returned.
- The calculation uses your project milestones. We provide a written breakdown of the work completed and the amount being returned before anything is finalized.
- Scope reductions are handled the same way. If you narrow the research question, drop databases, or remove a meta-analysis component after the review is underway, the reduction applies to the work not yet performed.
- You will always see the amount before it is finalized, and you are welcome to discuss the calculation with us.
Section 8
What Is Not Refundable
- Work that has been delivered and accepted. Acceptance is final approval of the deliverable.
- Requests made more than 30 days after final delivery. Revision support within the agreed scope continues beyond that date.
- A change of mind, a change of research direction, or a decision not to proceed with publication after the work has been carried out.
- Academic outcomes outside our control, including journal rejection, supervisor or committee decisions, and grades. We are engaged for methodological and analytical work, not for a particular verdict on it.
- Delays or shortfalls caused by materials, data, or feedback we requested and did not receive. We document every request so the record is clear on both sides.
- If you believe your situation is genuinely different, tell us. We look at each case on its facts.
Section 9
Cancelling a Project
- Cancel before work begins and you are refunded in full. If no team has been assigned, we process it straight away.
- Cancel once work is underway and you are refunded for the milestones not yet performed. Completed work is invoiced as delivered, and we hand over whatever has been produced to that point so it is yours to use.
- To cancel, email hello@researchgold.org with your order number and the subject line "Cancellation Request". We confirm the cancellation and the amount within 24 hours.
- If you are considering cancelling because of a concern about quality or timing, talk to us first. Most of these are fixable, and you would rather have the finished work than the refund.
Section 10
Contact Us
- For any refund, cancellation, or billing question, email hello@researchgold.org.
- We are available Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM Central Time, and respond to enquiries within 24 hours.
- Research Gold is located at 6801 Gaylord Pkwy, Frisco, TX 75034, USA.
- If you think this policy has been applied incorrectly in your case, say so and we will review it and explain our reasoning.
Questions About This Policy?
We are happy to walk through any of it before you start your project. Reach out anytime at hello@researchgold.org.