Procedure & Process
How It Works
A clear, six-step process from submission to delivery. Every engagement includes an initial assessment and a sample edit before you commit to the full fee - so you know exactly what you are getting before work begins.
The Process — Step by Step
Submit Your Draft
Upload your document via our Send Your Draft page, or email it directly to contact@pimpmythesis.com. Include your word count, submission deadline, and a brief note on what you need - or select a service from the dropdown and we will advise if a different approach would serve you better.
Pay the £30 Deposit
A £30 deposit is required before we begin reviewing your document. This covers the initial assessment and the sample edit. It is not a retainer or a booking fee - it is payment for the work we do before you decide whether to proceed.
Receive Your Sample Edit
We edit a representative passage of 300–500 words from your own document and return it to you, typically within two working days. This allows you to assess our editorial standard, our approach to tracked changes, and the level of intervention we apply - using your own writing as the test material.
Confirm Service & Pay the Balance
If you are satisfied with the sample, we confirm the service, the full fee and the agreed turnaround time in writing. Full payment of the balance is required before substantive work begins. We do not start on your document until payment is received.
We Complete the Work
Your document is edited or proofread by a PhD-qualified editor to the agreed specification. We work within the document using tracked changes so every intervention is visible and reversible. We add comments and editor's notes where a decision or query requires your attention.
Receive Your Completed Document
Your edited document is returned to you by the agreed deadline, with tracked changes, editor's notes and a brief summary of the main interventions made. You review the changes and accept or reject them as you see fit. The final document remains entirely your own work.
Delivery Timelines
Standard Turnaround
- Proofreading - up to 10,000 words7 working days
- Proofreading - 10,001–30,000 words10 working days
- Proofreading - 30,001–80,000 words14–21 working days
- Editing - up to 10,000 words14 working days
- Editing - 10,001–30,000 words21 working days
- Structural Editing10–14 working days
- Editorial Feedback report5–7 working days
Express Turnaround
Express turnaround (48–72 hours for shorter documents) is available subject to current capacity. Express rates apply - see Pricing.
Express availability is not guaranteed. If you have an urgent deadline, contact us before uploading your document to confirm we can accommodate your timeline. We will never accept a job we cannot deliver on time.
For PhD theses and documents over 30,000 words, turnaround is confirmed individually following assessment of the full manuscript. We recommend contacting us a minimum of 4–6 weeks before your submission deadline for full editing engagements.
Terms of Service — Key Points
The following summarises the key terms that govern every engagement. These are not designed to be onerous - they exist to set clear expectations on both sides and ensure a professional working relationship.
Right to Decline Work
Having accepted a document for assessment, we reserve the right to subsequently decline the engagement if the writing does not meet a standard that makes it possible for us to deliver the services we offer. Grounds for decline include but are not limited to:
- Suspected plagiarism or contract cheating
- A document in such poor condition that editing is not feasible without substantial rewriting
- Content that is offensive, illegal or in breach of academic integrity guidelines
If we decline, you will be notified by email and your payment will be reimbursed in full minus a £30 administrative fee.
Document Confidentiality
Your document is treated with complete confidentiality. We do not share, publish, discuss or make use of your work in any way beyond the delivery of the agreed service.
We retain a copy of both the original document received and the completed document returned for a period of three years. This is for our mutual protection in the event of a dispute and is standard practice for professional editorial services.
Client Responsibilities
To allow us to deliver the service effectively and on time, we require the following from clients:
- Accurate and current contact information at all times
- Prompt responses if we contact you with queries during the editing process
- Provision of any relevant style guides, referencing requirements or institutional guidelines at the point of submission
We cannot be held responsible for delays caused by failure to provide accurate contact information or by delayed responses to our queries.
Liability & Scope
Our liability is limited to the service described and agreed in writing. We are responsible for the quality of the editorial work we deliver against the agreed specification. We are not responsible for:
- Errors in passages we were not asked to edit
- Academic outcomes, marks or examination results
- Changes made to the document by the client after delivery
- Institutional policy decisions regarding the use of editorial services
Pimp My Thesis Ltd is registered in England & Wales (Company No. 15860249). All engagements are governed by English law.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I am unhappy with the sample edit?
You are under no obligation to proceed after seeing the sample edit. If you decide not to continue, the £30 deposit is non-refundable - it covers the work carried out in the assessment and sample. If you would like to discuss concerns about the sample before deciding, please email us.
Can I specify which part of my document is used for the sample?
Yes. If there is a section you are particularly concerned about - a chapter you feel is weaker, or a passage where you are unsure of the academic register - let us know and we will use that section for the sample edit.
What happens if you cannot meet the agreed deadline?
We will not accept a job we do not believe we can deliver on time. If an unforeseen circumstance arises that affects our ability to meet the agreed deadline, we will contact you immediately to discuss options, which may include a partial refund, an adjusted timeline, or - in exceptional circumstances - a full refund.
Do I have to accept all the tracked changes?
No. Tracked changes are suggestions. You review each change and accept or reject it individually. This is standard Word functionality - the final content of your document is entirely your decision. The work we deliver does not alter your document irrevocably.
Is my document safe with you?
Yes. Your document is handled with complete confidentiality. We do not share it with any third party, do not use it for any purpose beyond delivering the agreed service, and retain a copy for three years solely for dispute resolution purposes. We take the security of client documents seriously.
Ready to Get Started?
Upload your draft and we will assess it, send you a sample edit and provide a fixed quote - all before you commit to the full fee.