To think parents lying about their child's age to get cheaper tickets is wrong?

[Liketochat1]

The swimming thread got me thinking about a chat I was having the other day. Parents were saying they lie about their child's age to get cheaper or free tickets to parks, zoos, shows etc... They claim their children are under 5, 3 or whatever when they aren't.
AIBU to think this lying is wrong and unfair or is it just to be expected?

thanks

And to answer the OP yeah it's theft but it's theft I am more than comfortable with personally.

waves at LTC

im with montyandkittysma!
as i posted on LTC other thread....
seriously some posters need to back off.....as someone that knew LTC on the other forum....i think some particular posters are being very childish, pathetic and bullying.
she has moved on from the other forum why cant people just leave her to it?
so what she posted controversial subjects etc but whats it got to do with anyone else?
People that go around finding and outing certain posters are nothing but childish bullies that need to move and and get a life!

Re the OP. I've done it and saved a few quid. Not often and only to large corporations.

I'm not sure about going for free; it's not something I did when my kids were little.

But I've often said my 16 year old DD is 15 these last few months. She's still at school, she can't earn money (she can't even get student discount until college in September), so suddenly I'm shelling out for 3 adults?

I've also said she's 15 when staying in hotels like travelodge, otherwise she'd have to get a room all on her own. That's ridiculous when we're going for a family weekend away. To be honest, I'm sure the last time we stayed they knew she was probably 16 and didn't give two hoots. They aren't losing out; if I had to pay for two rooms we wouldn't be going at all.

Even worse, lots of holiday places and theme parks charge adult prices from 12. So we can't go lots of places now, with a 12 and 16 year old, without paying for 4 adults (two of which have no way of contributing).

That's the robbery in my opinion.

Applauds leftandright!
just to back up what LAR has said....LTC was never "sussed out" nor ever named as a troll...she simply got fed up of being hounded so moved on.

All seems rather unpleasant - people coming here from other boards and trying to persuade everyone a poster is a nasty piece of work.

I've done it a couple of times, but always feel awful afterwards and wish I hadn't. I draw the line at asking/telling ds to lie about his age, as that feels completely wrong, so would only do it if I knew he wouldn't be questioned (which I know is probably hypocritical, but I feel more comfortable facing up to my own dishonesty, but don't want encourage or condone ds lying ).

He once went to a theme park with a friend and her ds, both aged 5. Some of the rides were for age 6 and over. Friend told them to say they were 6 (both fairly tall) but ds came home saying that he didn't want to as he was 5 not 6, so he watched. That's my boy.

sorry Edam - and others. It's downright tragic if you ask me.

I absolutely can't believe people are talking about 'theft' etc on this thread!!!! Get a grip, seriously.

So it's not theft when the companies charge full 'adult' price for a 10 or 11 year old? Er they are not adults!!

Or charge £5 for a manky sandwich which cost them about 50p to make?

I know which is more morally wrong!

absolutely berry, what is morally wrong is those revolting soft play places charging nearly a tenner for a jug of weak squash and then clearing it away if ou leave the table for more than 2 minutes. I mean one could understand paying through the nose for say, the sea life centre in Brighton....but some places just take advantage of a captive audience.

Berri, you do not have to go there, and you do not have t buy anything, like sanwiches there. You can vote with your feet.

I think lying about age is setting a bad example for your kids. It is like taking a sicky, lots of people do it but people with integrity (and a bit of class) would not dream of it.

I don't think I'd lie at a soft[play place where the age is carefully considered.
I have done it on the train though when dd1 was 6 months too old for the free ticket. Saved me about £20. The guilt was easily worth it for me!

Vote with your feet - er yes I'm sure that you not taking your kids for a day out will be noticed by the profit-makers of these huge corporations who are calling 10 year old kids 'adults'.

And it's NOTHING like taking a sickie? Can't see the comparison at all!

Anywhere that considers 14 adult is asking for it.
I can't because people thought DD2 was 14 when she wasn't.

Yes berri, it would make a difference.

Nobody HAS to go to these hell places anyway.

And companies don't HAVE to call 10 year olds adults!!!

Let's not call it adult then, let's just call it "Person who we charge £X for".

I'm not setting a bad example for my kids at all. I'm always careful that Ds is out of earshot

With the train it is for many many people the only way they can travel to many places. So I think being pushed into a corner of hugely over priced train travel I think someone would be doing nothing wrong by lying. They shouldn't have privatised the trains. Many people have no choice but to use the train and many people don't have much money.

I once had very sharp words with a London Underground attendant at Putney Bridge who told me DS was over 11 (I think that was the age - something to do with Oyster because we didn't have one at the time because he was still 10) and I should have paid the full fare for him. I very politely said no actually he's still 10 to be met with that's what they all say darlin. The conversation then escalated somewhat along the lines of "I beg your pardon, are you calling me a liar" "if you aint got no passport on you you probably are" to me saying "shall I repeat that, are you calling me a liar?". I think it was one of my crossest ever moments and I think I went home and drafted a letter enclosing a copy of DS's passport for DH to sign - legal letters see - but I calmed down after an hour or two and rationalised he was just silly bugger and didn't want him to be disciplined.

The fact that if you don't happen to have ID for a child (who has ID for a child anyway?) they force you to pay full price means they are as bad as the people who are lying. It's all an excuse to make shed loads of money and when it's something like train and bus fares that can mean not affording to travel.

Oh well, I'm setting a bad example for my kids, am tacky and have no class......(runs off to put head in gas oven)...