Refund & Returns Policy
Clear, fair, and straightforward — because every purchase should feel risk-free
| At a Glance Physical Books: 30-day returns for damaged or incorrect items | E-books: Refund within 7 days if not downloaded | Audiobooks: Refund within 7 days if not accessed Contact us at orders@futurespublishing.com to start any return or refund request. |
1. Introduction
This Refund & Returns Policy applies to all purchases made directly through the Futures Publishing website (futurespublishing.com). It covers physical books, e-books, audiobooks, and any other products sold directly by Futures Publishing.
If you purchased a Futures Publishing title through a third-party retailer — such as Amazon, Flipkart, a bookshop, or a digital platform like Kindle or Apple Books — their returns policy applies, not ours. Please contact the retailer directly in those cases.
This policy is governed by the Consumer Protection Act 2019 (India) and, where applicable, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (UK) and equivalent legislation in other territories. Your statutory rights are not affected by this policy.
| We want every reader to be satisfied with their purchase. If something is wrong, contact us promptly and we will do our best to make it right. orders@futurespublishing.com | Response within 2 working days. |
2. Physical Books
When You Can Return a Physical Book
We accept returns of physical books in the following circumstances:
- The book arrived damaged in transit (torn cover, broken spine, water damage, etc.)
- The book is defective — for example, pages are missing, misprinted, or bound incorrectly
- You received the wrong title or edition
- The book was not delivered within the maximum estimated delivery window and is confirmed lost
| We do not accept returns of physical books that are in good condition simply because you changed your mind, found the book elsewhere at a lower price, or have already read it. Please choose carefully before purchasing. |
Return Window
Returns must be initiated within 30 days of the delivery date. After 30 days, we are unable to accept returns unless the defect could not reasonably have been identified earlier (for example, a printing defect discovered part-way through reading).
Condition of Returned Books
Books returned to us must be:
- In the same condition as received — unopened packaging where applicable
- Accompanied by the original order confirmation or packing slip
- Securely packaged to prevent damage in transit back to us
How to Return a Physical Book
- Email orders@futurespublishing.com with subject line: RETURN REQUEST — [Order Number]
- Include your full name, order number, and a brief description of the issue
- Attach a photograph showing the damage or defect (required for damaged or defective items)
- We will respond within 2 working days with a Return Authorisation Number (RAN) and return address
- Do not send items back without a RAN — returns without authorisation cannot be processed
- Post the book back to the address provided using a tracked service
- Retain your proof of postage until the refund or replacement is confirmed
Return Shipping Costs
| Reason for Return | Who Pays Return Postage |
| Damaged in transit | Futures Publishing — we will provide a prepaid label or reimburse postage |
| Defective (printing/binding error) | Futures Publishing — prepaid label or postage reimbursement |
| Wrong item sent | Futures Publishing — prepaid label or postage reimbursement |
| Lost in transit (confirmed) | No return required — replacement or refund issued directly |
Refund or Replacement
Once we receive and inspect the returned item, we will contact you within 3 working days to confirm the outcome. You may choose either:
- A full refund to your original payment method (processed within 5–7 working days of confirmation)
- A replacement copy of the same title dispatched at no additional charge
| If a replacement is out of stock, we will offer a full refund. We will never leave you without a resolution. |
3. E-Books
E-books are digital products delivered instantly upon purchase. Because they cannot be physically returned, our e-book refund policy is more limited than for physical books — but we still aim to be fair.
When You Can Receive an E-Book Refund
| Situation | Eligible for Refund? | Condition |
| E-book not yet downloaded | Yes — full refund | Request within 7 days of purchase |
| Technical error prevents download | Yes — full refund or re-delivery | Report within 14 days; we will attempt to fix first |
| Significant content error (missing chapters, corrupted file) | Yes — full refund or corrected file | Report within 30 days of purchase |
| Duplicate purchase (same title bought twice by error) | Yes — refund of one copy | Report within 14 days; must not have downloaded both |
| Downloaded and read — change of mind | No | Digital goods cannot be returned once accessed |
| Purchased the wrong edition (e.g. wrong language) | Case by case — contact us | Assessed individually |
How to Request an E-Book Refund
- Email orders@futurespublishing.com with subject line: EBOOK REFUND — [Order Number]
- Include your full name, order number, title purchased, and reason for the refund request
- For technical issues, describe the problem and the device/software you are using
- We will respond within 2 working days
- Approved refunds are returned to your original payment method within 5–7 working days
| E-books purchased through third-party platforms (Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo) are not covered by this policy. Please contact the relevant platform directly for refunds on those purchases. |
4. Audiobooks
Audiobooks purchased directly from futurespublishing.com are subject to the following refund conditions:
| Situation | Eligible for Refund? | Condition |
| Not yet streamed or downloaded | Yes — full refund | Request within 7 days of purchase |
| Technical error prevents playback | Yes — full refund or re-delivery | Report within 14 days |
| Audio quality issue (corrupted or inaudible file) | Yes — full refund or replacement file | Report within 30 days |
| Already listened — change of mind | No | Digital goods cannot be returned once accessed |
| Purchased wrong title by error | Case by case — contact us | Assessed individually; must not have been listened to |
The process for requesting an audiobook refund is the same as for e-books. Email orders@futurespublishing.com with your order number and a description of the issue.
5. Journal Subscriptions & Digital Access
If you have purchased an individual or institutional subscription to a Futures Publishing journal or digital archive, the following terms apply:
Subscription Refunds
- Annual subscriptions may be cancelled and refunded in full within 14 days of purchase, provided no content has been accessed
- After 14 days, or after content has been accessed, subscriptions are non-refundable
- Monthly subscriptions may be cancelled at any time; the current month’s fee is non-refundable but no further charges will be made
- If a technical fault prevents access to subscribed content for more than 72 consecutive hours, a pro-rata credit or refund will be issued for the affected period
Institutional Subscriptions
Institutional subscription refunds are governed by the terms of the individual institutional agreement. Please contact your account manager or email subscriptions@futurespublishing.com for assistance.
6. Items Damaged in Transit
We take great care in packing orders, but occasional transit damage does occur. If your physical book arrives damaged:
- Do not discard the packaging — photograph both the packaging and the damaged book
- Email orders@futurespublishing.com within 7 days of delivery
- Include your order number and attach clear photographs of the damage
- We will arrange a replacement or refund within 3 working days of receiving your report — no need to return the damaged copy in most cases
| We ask that transit damage is reported within 7 days of delivery. Reports made after this window may still be considered, but we reserve the right to request additional evidence. |
7. Lost or Undelivered Orders
If your order has not arrived within the estimated delivery window, please take the following steps before contacting us:
- Check your order confirmation for the estimated delivery date and courier tracking number
- Track your parcel using the courier’s website or app
- Check with neighbours and in safe delivery locations (porch, letterbox, building reception)
- Confirm your delivery address was entered correctly at checkout
If the parcel is confirmed as lost by the courier, or if it has not arrived within 5 working days past the latest estimated delivery date with no tracking update, contact us at orders@futurespublishing.com. We will:
- Open an investigation with the courier on your behalf
- Issue a replacement copy or full refund once the loss is confirmed — typically within 5 working days of the investigation conclusion
| Delivery Zone | Estimated Delivery | Contact Us If Not Arrived By |
| India (metro cities) | 3–5 working days | 10 working days from order date |
| India (other cities & towns) | 5–8 working days | 15 working days from order date |
| India (remote areas) | 8–14 working days | 21 working days from order date |
| International (standard) | 10–21 working days | 30 working days from order date |
| International (express) | 5–8 working days | 15 working days from order date |
8. Refund Processing
All approved refunds are returned to the original payment method used at the time of purchase. We do not issue refunds to a different card, account, or payment method.
| Payment Method | Refund Route | Typical Processing Time |
| Credit / Debit Card | Returned to original card | 5–7 working days |
| UPI / Net Banking | Returned to originating account | 3–5 working days |
| Wallets (Paytm, PhonePe, etc.) | Returned to wallet | 2–3 working days |
| Gift Voucher / Store Credit | Re-credited to voucher or account | Within 1 working day |
| Bank Transfer / NEFT | Returned to originating account | 5–7 working days |
| International payment (card) | Returned to original card | 7–10 working days |
Processing times are from the date we confirm your refund approval, not from the date you submit your request. Bank and card processing times are outside our control and may occasionally take longer.
| You will receive an email confirmation when your refund has been approved and processed. If you do not receive this within the timeframes above, please contact us and we will investigate. |
9. What We Cannot Refund
The following are not eligible for a refund under this policy:
| Item / Situation | Reason |
| E-books or audiobooks already downloaded or accessed | Digital goods cannot be returned once delivered |
| Physical books in good condition (change of mind) | We do not accept change-of-mind returns for books |
| Books with visible signs of use (underlining, notes, wear) | Item has been used; cannot be resold as new |
| Purchases made more than 30 days ago (physical) or 14 days ago (digital) | Outside return window |
| Orders placed with incorrect delivery address provided by the customer | Delivery failure due to customer error |
| Clearance, sale, or discounted titles marked ‘Non-refundable’ | Stated at point of purchase |
| Purchases made through third-party retailers | Not covered by our policy — contact the retailer |
| Even where a refund is not available under this policy, your statutory rights under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 (India) and equivalent legislation remain unaffected. If a product is genuinely faulty or does not match its description, you are always entitled to a remedy. |
10. Trade, Bulk & Institutional Orders
Orders placed by booksellers, libraries, schools, corporations, or other institutions are governed by the terms set out in the relevant trade or institutional agreement rather than this consumer policy.
For trade returns — including overstocked or unsold copies — please contact your account manager or email trade@futurespublishing.com. Trade returns are subject to separate terms and conditions and require prior written authorisation.
Bulk orders of 10 or more copies placed directly with Futures Publishing are also subject to separate terms. Contact us before placing a bulk order to discuss pricing, delivery, and returns conditions.
11. Contact Us
For all refund and returns enquiries, our Customer Orders team is your first point of contact. We aim to be helpful, responsive, and fair in every case.
| Query Type | Contact | Response Time |
| Physical book returns | orders@futurespublishing.com | Within 2 working days |
| E-book & audiobook refunds | orders@futurespublishing.com | Within 2 working days |
| Damaged or lost in transit | orders@futurespublishing.com | Within 2 working days |
| Journal / subscription refunds | subscriptions@futurespublishing.com | Within 3 working days |
| Trade & institutional returns | trade@futurespublishing.com | Within 3 working days |
| Escalated complaints | publisher@futurespublishing.com | Within 5 working days |
When contacting us, please always include your order number and full name. This helps us locate your order quickly and respond without unnecessary delays.
Last updated: May 2026. This policy is reviewed annually.
Nothing in this policy affects your statutory rights under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 (India) or equivalent legislation in your territory.
Futures Publishing
Shaping the stories of tomorrow.
futurespublishing.com | orders@futurespublishing.com