Meet the woman dubbed 'Queen of Complaints'

Meet the woman dubbed 'Queen of Complaints'

A woman dubbed the 'Queen of Complaints' has revealed she has netted herself just over £2,000 in compensation from top named brands in just one year.  

Andra Wintle, 47, a legal administrator from Nottingham, certainly seems to know her consumer rights and has become an expert at kicking up a fuss. 

Admitting that she 'loves the buzz' of standing up for her rights, she has so far taken on the likes of EE, Boots, Argos and Littlewoods.

Since she began her one-woman campaign in April 2016 Andra has apparently received thousands worth of cash payments, free meals, goods and vouchers over 15 separate complaints.

'I will never give up,' she told presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford on This Morning today. Asked whether she was addicted to complaining Andra said: 'I love the buzz when I have a very strong case. 

Andra Wintle has complained her way to over £2,000, by kicking up a fuss with big brands when she's been unhappy with their service

She appeared on This Morning to share her advice and tips on how others can become experts at complaining with Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford

'If I really believe in something, it can take several months. If I know I am right I will not let that go.'

Andra now runs a blog called How to Complain and Win Win Win charting her complaints and the compensation she has received, as well as offering a number of ways people can emulate her success.

She advises that complaining properly is key and consumers should research their rights when it comes to customer service, faulty goods and false advertising.

Andra makes the most of consumer advice site Which? and has also consulted Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert, and now makes sure she never takes no for an answer when it comes to an offer.

She urged others to never accepting an offer over the phone and to always have evidence in an email chain.

ANDRA'S TOP TIPS 

• Research your rights when it comes to faulty goods, false advertising and customer service.
• Consult with consumer advice sites like Which? and Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis. 
• Never accept an offer made over the phone - have evidence in an email chain. 
• Copy in the financial ombudsman when making contact by email. 
• Don't take no for an answer and haggle to get what you want.
• Be patient, as Andra points out compensation can take months to come through. 

If a complaint is ignored or not taken seriously Andra suggests including the financial ombudsman in any form of contact.

Patience is important to many complaints because it can sometimes take up to several months for an issue to be resolved.

Andra previously told The Sun that she has so far received £250 from Littlewoods after claiming not to have received a £30 store credit as part of an offer when she bought a £50 pair of trainers.

After waiting a month and several back and forth emails she was given the compensation plus the £30 credit she first complained about.

When she cancelled a phone contract with company EE and opened another, she said she was later charged for two direct debits when they had promised she wouldn't be.

The problem was resolved and she was refunded when she contacted the phone giant, and they also offered to reduce her monthly bill by £11, saving her £264.

After claiming to have received the wrong prescription for a pair of glasses at Boots Opticians and having to wait a further week for the correct ones, she complained and was offered a free pair of her choice - which were worth £270.

And when she claimed that a manager at an Argos store she visited wouldn't fix her daughter's laptop, she complained about the poor customer service.

 Andra said she would 'never give up' if she knew she had a strong case and says she always makes sure she has evidence to back up her claims

After contacting several different departments she claims to have been awarded five different payouts totalling £250. 

She also complained on behalf of her husband when he had an 'unsatisfactory' ski holiday and claims to have won £400 payment from the company.

Andra, who is keen to point out that she doesn't look for things to complain about and only does so if she feels she's been treated poorly, has several ongoing complaints that she is planning to resolve.

MailOnline have contacted representatives for EE, Boots Opticians, Argos and Littlewoods. 

THE BRANDS ANDRA TOOK ON AND WON

EE - after ending one phone contract and taking out another she claims to have been charged two direct debits. She was later refunded and they agreed to reduce her bill by £11 per month saving £264.

Argos - when she claimed the store refused to fix her daughter's broken laptop she complained and received five different payouts totalling £250.

Littlewoods - after not receiving £30 store credit as part of an offer, she took them on including the financial ombudsman as part of her complaint, and received £ 250 cash compensation and the original £30 store credit.

Boots - after claiming to have received the wrong prescription at the opticians and waiting for over a week for the correct one Andra complained and received a free pair of glasses of her choice which were worth £270.

This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10.30am

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