MOOSIC, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — People across NEPA defrauded of thousands of dollars after being ripped off by a travel company.
South Abington Township, Scranton, and Archbald Borough Police say 69-year-old Eileen Miner from West Pittston is facing felony theft and fraud charges, after taking money from victims through her travel company, Thompson Tours.
Police say Miner took around $50,000 from victims through her travel company.
Victims booked and paid for trips with Thompson Tours and then were told the trips were canceled. Police say Miner failed to refund their money, despite victims making multiple attempts to contact her.
Miner faced the charges in court Tuesday night.
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On Wednesday, people unrelated to those charges came forward, saying they've experienced travel troubles of their own with Miner.
"We figured it's a bus trip, you know, what could go wrong on a bus trip?" said Hanover Township anonymous caller.
The Luzerne County man 28/22 News spoke with, who wished to remain anonymous, booked and paid around $3,000 for a bus trip to Canada with his wife.
He learned about Thompson Tours through an online ad. On October 7, less than two weeks before the trip, he received an email:
Unfortunately, Thompson Tours has run into some unsurmountable issues that we have not been able to resolve and are forced to cancel. We will get back to you on refunds.
Anonymous Hanover Customer
He says he's been reaching out to Miner about a refund but has not heard back.
One group received the same email on October 7, just hours before their flights were supposed to take off to Italy.
Another Luzerne County woman who spoke with 28/22 News claims she's also out of money after being forced to cancel her trip in October 2023 due to health reasons.
She says Miner assured her she would be refunded through travel insurance. To date, she's only gotten half of her cash back.
"So you know I saved for quite a while for this trip and certainly am gonna miss the $1,800 that she still owes me," said Patricia Keefer from Drums, Luzerne County.
Gerry Gilpatrick from Peckville says he was also forced to cancel his fully paid trip to Switzerland with Thompson Tours due to his wife's health concerns.
Miner insisted travel insurance would take care of the refunds. Gilpatrick called the insurance company himself. Their response:
They said that there is no case in my name and there's none in Thompson Tours.
Peckville resident Gerry Gilpatrick
A representative from the State Attorney General's Office stated their Bureau of Consumer Protection has received 29 complaints against Thompson Tours since 2019, 13 of which were from this year.
The lawyer representing Miner says Eileen Miner Travel Inc. filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in August.
Court documents reveal Miner was located by Plains Township Police in the Mohegan Sun Casino Parking Lot on October 7.
They were called there for a welfare check after they say she attempted self-harm. She was transported to a nearby hospital for a mental health evaluation.
Miner's bail is set at $50,000 and if she is unable to make bail, she will remain in prison.
