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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that the swimming baths should not have charged me for ds's friend

32 replies

tevion · 25/08/2010 17:21

Took ds and his friend swimming today to our local swimming baths.
Now this particaulr swimming baths is not council run but they still participate in the free swimming for under 16's children have been issued with this centres own free swim card.
Well friends dad could not find his swim card this morning so I told him not to worry as they usually still let them in if they don,t have their card.
Anyway gets to the swimming baths and they were about to charge me for myself and the two children and I said don,t the two children get free swimming, I have noticed that they have tried to charge me before like this for the children I don,t think this centre really wants to take part in the free swim and never has done.
Anyway the lady asked me if I had thier cards I explained that I only had my own dc's and she said that I would have to pay for friend to go in.
I said that we had always been allowed to go through before to which she replied that that whoever let us in should not have done.
I said well everybody knows that its a government thing thta under 16's get in free.
She spoke to her supervisor who said that without the card I have to pay has even though it is free swimming they still have to be strict on the rules.
Anyway I ended up paying for dc's friend.
I know its only a couple of pound and next year the free swim is no more but aibu to have expected not to pay.

OP posts:
sloanypony · 25/08/2010 17:23

YABU. If you want to take part in a scheme, then you have to follow the rules/procedure.

Sure, she was being a bit of a jobsworth by not just using her discretion but you know you were taking a risk not having the card.

Swishswish · 25/08/2010 17:24

YABU and I can't even be arsed to tell you why

zandy · 25/08/2010 17:24

Yes.

TrillianAstra · 25/08/2010 17:25

It's free swimming for children who have the card.

Clary · 25/08/2010 17:27

The government thing that kids don't get charged ended on July 31.

Sorry.

Original poster
tevion · 25/08/2010 17:28

its next year that it ends clary 2011

OP posts:
missmapp · 25/08/2010 17:31

its not free swimming everywhere anyway, kent hasnt offered it for any under 16s so count yourself lucky to have had it at all!!

LackingInspiration · 25/08/2010 17:31

YABU

It's not a government scheme anymore and there are registration guidelines that are stupid, I agree, but thems the rules!

booyhoo · 25/08/2010 17:33

sorry but yabu.

you knew you didn't have the card and you said yourself "they usually still let them in". that doesn't mean they are obligated to, just that you presumed they would.

historygirls · 25/08/2010 17:33

Free swimming ended in my county on 31st July this year.

YABU

Its free swimming for people who have the card.

scurryfunge · 25/08/2010 17:36

It is free to child residents in the area that offers it. Who was to say that the child wasn't visiting from another area and taking advantage?

YABU, sorry.

Goblinchild · 25/08/2010 17:37

I've tried that with railcards you know.
Didn't work either. Grin

Morloth · 25/08/2010 17:46

YABU, if you are supposed to have the card then you are supposed to have the card.

Also, what is this free swimming you all seem to know about?

scurryfunge · 25/08/2010 17:47

A lot of counties offered free swimming at council pools for part of the year but not everyone does it, Morloth.

Original poster
tevion · 25/08/2010 17:48

I thought the free swimming was all across the country I am surprised to hear that some of you don,t know about it.

OP posts:
SeaTrek · 25/08/2010 18:39

YABU

You didn't have the card. Simple.

Clary is correct - it was scrapped effective from 31 July (despite it orginally having a run date until 2011). Some places are keeping it going a bit longer though. I think my local baths are going to allow you to use the card until the end of October. You were lucky to still get your son in for free, really.

ZinglebertBembledank · 25/08/2010 18:44

Our council ended free swimming at the end of july.

everythingiseverything · 25/08/2010 18:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sanielle · 25/08/2010 18:48

YABU of course.

Hulababy · 25/08/2010 18:50

YABU. They were following the rules and presumablly the member of staff could get ito trouble by their manager if they fail to do so.

There is NO free swimming for children here anyway and AFAIK there never has been here for children over 5.

StewieGriffinsMom · 25/08/2010 18:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

madamearcati · 25/08/2010 18:52

No free swimming here and never has been £3.70 for an adult and £2.20 for a child
So on that basis YABU

EvilTwins · 25/08/2010 18:58

YABU.

Where I live you can only get a card if you're a resident of the city where the pool is, which I'm not. And we have to pay now that our DTDs are over 4. I did ask last time we went, as I'd misunderstood and thought that it was free for all under 16s, but it was explained that those who are eligible have to apply for a card and without a card, there is no free swim.

Starbuck999 · 25/08/2010 19:08

We have no free swimming here either - our local basic pool is £4.90 an adult and £3.50 ish a child!!!

OP YABU, you must know that.

flootshoot · 25/08/2010 19:27

of course YABU. It's so obvious it doesn't even need explaining.