Apex homeowners don't see refund from no-show tree trimmer

Suzanne Stephens said she and her husband hired Glenn Derrek Anderson to take down two trees from their Apex property after he knocked on their door with an offer they couldn't refuse.

He said he would remove the trees for the low price of $750, but after immediately cashing a $200 deposit check from the couple, he never showed up to do the work, the couple said. 

A 5 On Your Side investigation uncovered years of unhappy customers who paid deposits to Anderson and never saw anything in return.

Over the last 17 years, he's been in and out of prison in at least two states, including North Carolina. Among the long list of convictions: forgery, grand larceny and taking money from people but not doing promised work.

Anderson's company, Derrek Anderson Tree Service, also known as Creative Treescapes, has an F Rating with the Better Business Bureau because of customers who say they paid him hundreds of dollars in deposits for work that was never completed.

He told 5 On Your Side earlier this month that he isn't "a scammer" and that he would refund the Stephens' deposit.

The couple said Anderson called their home to say he would drop off the money, but never did. 

Anderson has not responded to messages from 5 On Your Side this week.