Some of about 1,000 travelers are beginning to receive refunds after losing tickets and reservations when an online travel agency associated with the Points of Light Institute collapsed in late June.

The Points of Light Institute is the new name of the nonprofit that resulted from the merger of Atlanta-grown Hands On Network and the Points of Light Foundation in Washington last year. The headquarters remains in Atlanta.

Michelle Nunn, the president and CEO of the organization, said she is still not sure how many people lost trips they purchased through an eBay auction store. The nonprofit is still sifting through the documents and confirming those who are due a refund.

The eBay store was run by an independent contractor associated with the Points of Light Institute. Profits from the sale of travel packages went to the institute, which coordinates and promotes volunteerism and community service across the U.S.

Customers began complaining about the service early this summer, and an internal investigation showed that there were problems and missing money, Nunn said at the time.

The nonprofit hired a law firm and other professional agencies to investigate and began notifying customers that trips after July 15 would not be honored, but that customers would get refunds. They also notified law enforcement in Washington. The U.S. Attorney's office in Washington declined to comment about the case.

Not everyone is happy about the refunds.

Warren Rosser of Dallas, Texas, bought two round-trip tickets for a wedding anniversary in the Caribbean for $800. After the cancellation, he checked into rebooking the flights, but found it would cost considerably more. He said he has received his refund, but thinks the organization should honor his original purchase and also give him the difference between his original purchase price and what rebooking the flights would cost.

"If they didn't exercise due diligence in monitoring what was going on, should that be the customers fault?" he said.

Nunn said she understands the hardships and frustration the incident has caused, but thinks the organization is being fair in refunding the money the buyers lost.