Appeals & Complaints

Finance, Accounting and Business Analysis (FABA) is committed to maintaining fairness, transparency, and integrity in all editorial processes. Authors, reviewers, and readers may submit appeals or complaints regarding editorial decisions, peer review procedures, or publication ethics.

  1. Appeals Against Editorial Decisions

Authors have the right to appeal a rejection decision if they believe that:

• a significant misunderstanding of the manuscript occurred;
• a factual error influenced the decision;
• the peer-review process was not conducted according to journal policy.

Appeal Submission Procedure
Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Editorial Office at editor@faba.bg, clearly marked as “Appeal – Manuscript ID [XXXX]”.

The appeal must include:

• manuscript ID and title;
• detailed explanation of the grounds for appeal;
• specific responses to reviewer comments (if applicable);
• supporting evidence or documentation.

Appeals must be submitted within 30 days of the decision.

Appeal Review Process
Upon receipt, the appeal will be evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief. If necessary, the manuscript may be:

• reassessed by the Editor-in-Chief;
• assigned to a different editor;
• sent to additional independent reviewers.

The Editor-in-Chief’s decision on the appeal is final.

  1. Complaints Regarding Editorial Process or Conduct

Complaints may concern:

• delays or procedural irregularities;
• reviewer or editor conduct;
• conflicts of interest;
• alleged bias or discrimination;
• ethical concerns related to published articles.

Complaint Submission Procedure
Complaints must be submitted in writing to editor@faba.bg. All complaints are treated confidentially.

Investigation Procedure
The Publisher and/or Editor-in-Chief will conduct an impartial review of the complaint. Where appropriate, additional members of the Editorial Board may be consulted.

If the complaint concerns the Editor-in-Chief, the matter will be handled by an independent senior member of the Editorial Board or by the Publisher to ensure neutrality.

  1. Ethical Complaints and Misconduct

Allegations of research misconduct (plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate publication, authorship disputes, etc.) are handled in accordance with the journal’s Publication Ethics Policy.

Where necessary, the journal may issue:

• corrections;
• expressions of concern;
• retractions.

  1. Timelines

The journal aims to acknowledge receipt of appeals or complaints within 15 days. A final response is normally provided within 30–45 days, depending on the complexity of the case.

  1. Confidentiality and Fair Treatment

All appeals and complaints are handled confidentially, impartially, and without retaliation. The journal does not tolerate discriminatory or abusive communication during the appeals process.

  1. Transparency

The existence of this policy does not guarantee reversal of editorial decisions. However, it ensures that all concerns are reviewed fairly and in accordance with established procedures.

Alignment with International Standards
FABA’s appeals and complaints procedures are aligned with internationally recognized principles of publication ethics and editorial transparency.