Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell a little porkie pie about DDs age

152 replies

KellyElly · 19/10/2012 21:39

DD was three today. I'm taking her to a place tomorrow where u pay ridiculous money when they are three. I am planning to say she's two as its just by a couple of days. I am very skint and this will mean I can get her some lunch out, a rise and an ice cream. Otherwise it will be the attraction and home. AIBU?

OP posts:
EdsRedeemingQualities · 20/10/2012 16:19

I always say and sometimes, like on the bus the other week, the driver lets us off paying - but I wouldn't feel right about it if I lied.

I don't want to be someone who lies. It's horrid.

Schrodingershamster · 20/10/2012 16:43

Ive made out i was 15 and skipping school to get a child fare on the train. I was 19 at the time.

Ive always looked young i had trouble getting into a 12 when i was 15 as well. Goes both ways. Love it now, even though i get IDed a lot i can pass for 17/18 if i wanted to.

5Foot5 · 20/10/2012 17:35

I bet most people have done something like this at times.

I think the last time we did was a couple of years back when we were booking a short break in the Lake District and the hotel we like had family rooms but only for children up to 14. We booked it and told DD (who was 15 and 4 months) she was 14 - OK! TBF I had looked at the possibility of getting a single room but there were none available and I damn well wasn't paying for another double!!

EdsRedeemingQualities · 20/10/2012 17:49

Probably most people have. It's just, well it is just so entitled. I don't like trying to trick people to save a few quid, or to be allowed to do what I want regardless of their rules.

It's called respect I suppose.

Startailoforangeandgold · 20/10/2012 17:55

YANBU

I'm going to have to get some ID for DD1.

Station master wanted to sell her an adult ticket. Just because she's taller than me doesn't make her 16.

EdsRedeemingQualities · 20/10/2012 17:56

am I the only person on this thread to say it's unreasonable?

Can't quite believe it.

Iteotwawki · 20/10/2012 18:00

No - I agree with you Eds.

If you want to pay under 3 prices, take them when they're under 3.

EdsRedeemingQualities · 20/10/2012 18:01

Oh thank God for that.

Bedat10 · 20/10/2012 18:10

I took Ds to the London sealife centre on his 3rd bday the other week. The price for a three year old was loads (£15ish I think?) so got him in for under 3. My reasoning was he wasn't born til 1pm and we went in at 1030, so technically not quite 3 yet.. V glad I didn't pay full price for him as he moaned all the way round and didn't really want to look at anything!
YANBU but think once they are a few weeks/months into being 3 YWBU!

amck5700 · 20/10/2012 18:14

I have in the past, paid for my kids when they should have been free as they were so tall that I felt that it looked like I was cheating/lying.

e.g. Age 10 and under get on the tube free in London - didn't buy No2 son (age 10 at the time) a ticket the first day of our trip but got a bit fed up of the funny looks from the guards when we had to go through the manned barriers as he didn't have a ticket to get through the automatic ones, that I bought him a ticket every day after that. It's hardly my fault that he looked at least 12 and I guess we could have just fronted it out.

SarryB · 20/10/2012 19:26

My mum trained one of my younger brothers to say he was 4 when really he was 7.

I'm sure that will have serious repercussions as he gets older.

StaceymReadyForNumber3 · 20/10/2012 19:38

I used to prompt dd to be 4 when taking the train to her hospital appointments up until she was7 as I was already having to pay £15 to get me there weekly and I was skint.

YANBU, 1 day makes no difference.

FayeKinitt · 20/10/2012 19:41

We did it the other way round.

When I was 13 Mrs Doubtfire first came to the cinema it was originally rated a 15 (then later downgraded to a 12!)

My Dad wanted to take us so told me to put some of my Mum's make up on (several shades too dark!) and wear my only pair of heels Grin Excellent parenting I thought!

RyleDup · 20/10/2012 19:43

I wo

RyleDup · 20/10/2012 19:45

Whoops hit the wrong button there, fat fingers.
I'd do it, wouldn't think twice about it tbh.

apostropheuse · 20/10/2012 19:50

If your daughter says she's had her birthday and she's three already, just smile in a conspiratorial manner to the ticket person and say...

"We told her it was her birthday yesterday because that's when she had her party, but it's actually not until tomorrow".

Children that age wouldn't really know the difference anyway.

It's only one day my goodness - just do it!

ecto · 20/10/2012 19:52

I went on a school trip. We were all 14/15. I heard the teacher tell the person at the entry point that we were a class of 11 yos!! We were all on a coach so they couldnt see how tall we were. They didn't question it and we were let in!

Cahoots · 20/10/2012 20:09

I usually dissaprove of this type of thing but for the sake of a couple of weeks I would not blame you for lying. I don't think I would though. I would feel too guilty.

In most places when my DC's have been just over an age limit I ask if they can have the cheaper rate and I have nearly always been given it. Although, I have not tried it at a theme park. TBH I would rather not take a 3 year old Grin

Cahoots · 20/10/2012 20:10

ecto. Grin. I wonder if he pocketed the difference?

SlightlySuperiorPeasant · 20/10/2012 20:21

I would say YABU but I think it's ridiculous that attractions that have height restrictions charge depending on age. Looking at you, Merlin Group! Gulliver's Land charges by height and I don't mind paying full price for 2yo DS because he can go on most of the rides.

Laughing at the mum trying to stretch her child! :o

Original poster
KellyElly · 20/10/2012 20:23

Thanks everyone for your replies. Took her to the London Aquaruim today and didn't have to lie as they didn't even ask!

OP posts:
jaggythistle · 20/10/2012 20:25

you could always try being honest - we went to a local attraction that we've been to lots a week after DS1's birthday and i told them he was 3 now...the member of staff said "oh, don't worry about it - you should have just said he was 2" Grin

i figure he's got to be 3 sometime.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 20/10/2012 21:29

I think this is wrong. Do you want to teach your child that it is OK to lie and defraud?

Sad that I am probably in the minority here.

Original poster
KellyElly · 21/10/2012 07:58

SDT my DD is three! I'm not teaching her to lie and defraud as she is had no idea what was going on apart from the fact she's going to see some fish for her birthday.What a completely over the top post!

OP posts:
EdsRedeemingQualities · 21/10/2012 08:17

But I'm really surprised to see how many people are Ok with lying.

I just didn't anticipate that.

Still it might be down to you lot that I get let off for free sometimes, just from the fact the person is so pleased to have a customer who is honest once every few months...

thing is I don't mind paying. If I think the price isn't worth it, or my child won't get the most out of the experience, well, we just don't go in the first place.

Trying to trick people is so pointless. SO pointless.

Swipe left for the next trending thread