Meet the compers: Linda Curtis

‘Meet the Compers’ is back! I know how much you enjoy hearing about other people’s prizes and winning tips, which is why I love to feature passionate and successful compers here on SuperLucky. 

For the first instalment of the new series, I’m delighted to introduce Linda Curtis. Linda is a talented and enthusiastic comper, and has won amazing prizes in a range of comps, including mobile apps, photo comps, purchase-necessary promotions, and even making a zombie video!

Hi Linda, and thanks for joining me here on SuperLucky for a Q&A!
Hi Di, and thank you for choosing me for ‘Meet the Compers’!

How and when did you start comping?
I started in 2008 after I got made redundant. I came across the Money Saving Expert competition forum, gave it a go and won football tickets. Two weeks later I won a table football – that was it, I was hooked!

Which websites, forums, magazines or resources do you use for comping?
Mainly MSE & Compers News, as well as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You love to enter fun photo and video competitions – can you share some of your favourite winning entries?
It has to be Virgin Media’s Walking Dead Competition, where I dressed as a zombie and made a short video in the local graveyard – I won a fantastic trip to LA! I won an oven worth £1000 for sharing a photo of my old broken oven. Recently I have won an iPad Mini on the Munch Bunch photo comp (as featured on SuperLucky).

Linda’s zombie action won her a holiday to LA!

You’ve had some success with ‘purchase necessary’ competitions – tell us about your best wins.
My Florida trip (coming up in May 2016) was a prize from an M&Ms on-pack promotion – being able to take the grandchildren makes it extra special. I won a Kitchenaid mixer on a Philadelphia cheese tub – then again on the Onken yogurt pots! I’ve also won a trip to New York with a Bodyform promotion, and recently £1000 in the Fairy Good Müller Promotion where you need to collect lids.

One of the best things about comping is those real ‘money can’t buy’ prizes. Which are your favourites?
I’ve been lucky and won some fantastic holidays that we would never have had without comping! We’ve been to Australia, Nashville (visiting the Jack Daniels distillery, which was amazing), New York and Los Angeles, a wine tasting trip to France, lots of lovely UK breaks and a week’s boating in Scotland.

Linda on her prize trip to Australia

What type of prize promotion do you enjoy most?
The effort competitions – it’s much more fun when you have to go out and do something, especially if it means getting the family involved and it’s silly!

What’s your favourite prize, and why was it so special?
I think it has to be £5,000 Sainsbury’s vouchers. I was able to take all the family shopping, give them trolleys and tell them to get whatever they wanted. I loved being able to treat them, especially my mum who lives off her pension. She thought she was on supermarket sweep!

A supermarket sweep for all the family with Linda’s £5000 of vouchers!

Are there any types of prize promotions you’d like to see more or less of?
I’dd like to see more effort, video and picture competitions, and much less of the like & share comps on Facebook, which are so boring!

Is there a prize you’ve tried to win but it has always eluded you?
Yes! A bike – I’d love a Pendleton old-fashioned ladies bike with a basket on the front. Or of course, everyone would like to win a car – now that would be the icing on the cake!

What do you think the future holds for comping?
There are a lot of comps out there, but also so many people entering that it is getting harder to win. But that just means making more effort – getting out there, finding comps and sometimes making a fool of yourself, which I’m sure we have all done!

Looking good, Linda!

Do you have any funny stories related to comping?
Where do I start? When we were going to the graveyard I was in full zombie outfit – wig, facepaint, blood, the lot! I drove there and had to stop at a zebra crossing for two policemen to walk across. My husband said “Oh my god, you’re going to get arrested! I knew this was a silly idea!”, while my daughter sat in the back in fits of laughter.

What would be your top comping tip or piece of advice?
My advice is to enjoy it – at the end of the day it’s a hobby with no guarantees. When you stop enjoying it, and it becomes a bore and a chore it’s time to give up. Me? After all this time I still love it!

What’s the most unusual prize you’ve won?
That must be my unique vase, won in a competition where I had to say what my favourite flower was!

Linda’s vase: the most unusual prize ever?

Thanks so much Linda – and good luck with your comping for 2016!

If you enjoyed this, check out the rest of the Meet the Compers Q&As – and if you’d like to feature on SuperLucky, send me a message via the Contact page!