Complaint Review: Johnny A. Zeta Jr.

I made a mistake hiring an UNLICENSED ELECTRICIAN recently. I'm posting this so that people won't make the same mistake I did.

Johnny A. Zeta Jr. Modus Operandi is posting ads on craigslist claiming he is a Licensed Electrician. He also advertises as a General Contractor. He says he specializes in renovating kitchens, bathrooms, etc.

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Recently our home was broken into twice. 2 Generators from our garage were stolen by junkies (paraphernalia left in the garage). I've been really worried about my children and my pets' safety since this happened. After many sleepless nights I finally decided to purchase a Floodlight Security Camera. I got here on Craigslist to look for an electrician who can install it on our driveway. The one I contacted was JOHNNY ARTURO ZETA JR. who was located near my area here in Newark. I figured an electrician who lived nearby can do the job sooner and I felt that I could trust a "neighbor". He was asking $200 to install the floodlight. I thought it was fair and we set the appointment.

On the day of the installation, he said he was going to buy materials and show me the receipt later. When he came back he showed me the receipt and the materials he bought which came with TOOLS. This should've been my first red flag right? What kind of Licensed Electrician has no tools? He didn't even ask me if I had tools, this could've save us $$$. At the time I was desperate to have the Floodlight installed so I didn't say anything. I just wanted my family safe.

2nd red flag: He brought a 2nd person with him who did the actual work. I thought at first it was a trainee or an assistant. Nope. Everything was done from start to finish by his companion Frank Matos. All Johnny did was hold the ladder and hand some screws. Frank did a clean job and he did it efficiently. You can tell he knew what he was doing and what he was talking about. I was impressed so I decided I wanted Frank to come back and install a second Floodlight Cam at the front door. But to hire him I would have to go through Johnny. 

Here's the bait and switch: Johnny said I have enough excess materials (tubing, wiring, etc) for them to install the 2nd floodlight and that we should be able to hook it up to the powerline Frank had just installed where the junction box was. So I was convinced and said ok I'll call you soon to schedule it. But when the time came to actually use the excess materials he said these weren't good enough to use for a proper second installation and I would have to pay him twice more. Read on:

On Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at a quarter to 8pm Johnny and Frank began installation. I left them to do their work. As usual Johnny just watched while Frank did all the work. In less than 15 minutes they were done. They pointed at the blinking light "See it's working". So I gave him the payment and thanked them both. 

I know. I should've tested it first before letting them go. But I was just so happy to finally have this running. I can finally relax. I also thought there's no way I would be scammed after they did the first job so well. Boy was I wrong. I switched off the front porch light so I could test if the motion-activated-floodlight would work in the dark. It didn't. I switched the front porch light back on and the floodlight turned on. I switched off the front porch light again and the floodlight stopped working. The only way the Floodlight will work is if the SUPER BRIGHT Front Porch Light was switched on. Nice. PRO.

I figured well it's only been 5 minutes I could still ask them to come back and do this right. Got on the phone and told Johnny it's not working right. He passed the phone to Frank. I know I sounded desperate and "panicky" on the phone but I was telling Frank that this won't work the way he's installed it. He was just starting to tell me how they could probably install a RELAY when Johnny took the phone and started YELLING at me telling me this was all my fault, that I told them to do it this way. I remember telling them don't remove the front porch light - that was the only instruction I said. All I could hear was Johnny yelling at me, using scare tactics - I couldn't even butt in. He said they did everything I instructed and it was a professional electrician work, go ahead ask any Licensed Electrician. I told him how can I possibly know how this should be installed I'm not the electrician. I asked what is the solution, how can this be fixed. He said I have to pay him another $300 to $400 and buy more materials. At that point I said goodbye and will get in touch later. I knew I've just been scammed. This man has no INTEGRITY and I knew I wasn't gonna get my $200 back. $200 is obviously what his name is worth.

I've contacted the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. On the License Verification they said there is no one registered as an an ELECTRICIAN named Johnny Arturo Zeta Jr. 

There's no company registered as "Zeta the General Contractor".

There is no one in the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors listed with the name Johnny Arturo Zeta Jr. 

Please be careful dealing with this man. He is a FRAUD and a THIEF. He doesn't have a license to operate as a GENERAL CONTRACTOR and doesn't have a license to operate as an ELECTRICIAN. If he shows you an ID or a license number -- don't fall for it. It's all FAKE. Contact the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs here 973-504-6200 to verify the License #. Or go to the website online to do a License Verification.