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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

GoldenGreen · 21/10/2012 21:18

x post

HappySeven · 21/10/2012 21:39

I have a very tall child who has always looked older than he is so when I took him to a zoo for his 3rd birthday I didn't even consider claiming he was two but was honest and said "he's 3 today". The lovely lady behind the counter let him in for free (under 3s were free).

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 21/10/2012 22:28

Actually, KellyElly, despite this being in AIBU, I have to be honest and say that I did want you to come round to my way of thinking, because I genuinely believe that what you did, in the end, was the right thing to do.

Pumpkinlatte · 22/10/2012 04:30

I am utterly flabbergasted at the number of people who think this is okay!

Just because your ex didn't come through with his payments and left you short, why should you steal - yes, steal - from someone else to make up for it?

We're not talking about feeding or clothing or housing your DD, we're talking about an optional leisure activity.

If you don't want your DD to be disappointed, take it up with your ex. What does the London Aquarium have to do with it?

Would you have done this if the treat were a visit to a family-run venue, an honest outfit trying to make enough money to raise their own children?

Seriosuly, how dare you??

dysfunctionalme · 22/10/2012 04:39

Tbh I have never done this. I have been tempted but never gone through with it. But what has happened lots of times is that I've been charged less anyway. Like last week we went on a hugely expensive ride, declared the 5yo but he was let on free. I didn't even realise until later that I hadn't been charged for him.

EdsRedeemingQualities · 22/10/2012 06:53

Hooray! The normal people are back! Where have you been all weekend!

God it is such a relief to see a bit of opposition. I thought the world had gone daft.

MayTheOddsBeEverInYourFavour · 22/10/2012 07:15

YANBU

And I am at 'inconvenient truth' erm maybe a slight overreaction?! and 'it's so pointless' it's clearly not pointless if it works even though you might not agree with it

I would draw the line at making the child lie though

EdsRedeemingQualities · 22/10/2012 07:30

So you reckon tricking people has a point?

Well each to their own. I think it just means they put their prices up so you still can't afford to pay for stuff.

It doesn't do the world a lot of good, really, does it?

Maybe if more people just stayed away when prices are too high, these places would have to think about reducing the cost of their tickets. But that's not going to happen while people like you guys insist on forcing/blagging your way in without paying.

just a thought.

Original poster

KellyElly · 22/10/2012 11:45

Pumpkinlatte I know you are obviously wetting your pants to get your outraged/hysterical comment on the post but IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED. WE WENT ON SATURDAY SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT BUT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN AND GONE. The initial AIBU was asking the question, now I shall leave the outraged minority to discuss among yourselves what thieves, swindlers and fraudsters the majority of posters on her are and leave the thread as the event I was asking for opinions on happened last week!

OP posts:

EdsRedeemingQualities · 22/10/2012 12:22

Kelly I have to say that post doesn't do you any favours.

justmyview · 22/10/2012 12:34

I posted on Friday 19 @ 21.44 to say I didn't agree with lying about the child's age. I'm pleased to see some other people take the same view. I'm surprised and disappointed to see so many people do think it's OK. Bottom line - lying about a child's age to get in free is fraud and dishonest. (Yes I know that the visit has been and gone)

KatyPeril · 22/10/2012 12:37

I've done it before. I'd it again if need be. I'm lucky enough not to suffer from guilt though

usualsuspect3 · 22/10/2012 12:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Vagaceratops · 22/10/2012 13:02

I did it on Friday.

OhlimpPricks · 22/10/2012 13:13

Can I suggest that you go and talk to someone about money management. Rights or wrongs aside of this weekend, if you are having to eBay things to buy your dd a birthday present, then spending £30 on a day out, maybe have a think about spending. You obviously can't rely on dd after to pay anything; have you thought about putting a little bit aside each week? If you can afford a fiver a week when you do your shopping, buy a gift card , an by te time Christmas time comes, it won't hit quite so hard.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 22/10/2012 14:40

OK - all of you who think it is fine to lie about your child's age in order to pay less/no admission fee - what would you say if you caught your child lying or stealing something, and told them that this was wrong, only for them to say, 'But mum, you lied about my age to get me a cheaper bus ticket/Chessington entry/whatever' - how would you reply to that?

And presumeably you would all be cross if someone (individual or a company) intentionally defrauded you/lied to you/stole something from you? And you'd all think it wrong for a non-resident parent to lie about their income in order to pay less maintenance for their children. So why is it OK for you to lie/steal/defraud and not OK for other people?

EssexGurl · 22/10/2012 14:54

DS has a tendency of telling everyone how old he is and when his birthday is/was. He is 7 now but he does it when tickets are bought anywhere (trains, visitor attaractions) and has done since he was probably 3. He did this to us at Windsor Castle. It was the day after his 4th birthday and you only had to pay when they hit 4. He announced to the whole queue that he had been 4 yesterday. The woman at the till was v embarrased and said she did have to charge us for him as everyone knew his age. "

Be careful with lying as it might backfire.

Libra · 22/10/2012 15:14

It can work the other way as well. Last summer we went to a buffet restaurant thing where under 9s were free.

DS2 was 8 and so I was expecting only to pay for DH, myself and DS1.
DS1 was most insulted therefore when the bill arrived and he was also marked down as a free under-9.

He was insulted because he was in fact 18 and about to embark on a medical degree at university. Despite my protests he insisted on explaining all this to the (giggling) waitress and the bill was re-presented.

Given that he had drunk beer throughout the meal, I had thought she had cottoned on to the fact that he was over 9!

Original poster

KellyElly · 22/10/2012 15:33

OhlimpPricks as this thread is still going I will answer your point - although I have already answered if you actually read my posts. DDs dad is the one who needs financial advice as he has not given me maintenance payments this month - he is self employed and wasn't paid for a project when he should have been. Of course I had money put aside for her birthday but due to him not paying I have had other expenditures i.e. food, childminder (working lone parent), bills, rent, travel etc etc - I am not a millionaire so when a chunk of money taken away in a month I will struggle as I would imagine many other parents. As I stated previously I usually would have the money to pay hence why I posted on here as it isn't something I make a habit of .

OP posts:

usualsuspect3 · 22/10/2012 15:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

whatsleep · 22/10/2012 15:43

I can vividly remember going to a zoo when I was little and my mum telling me that they didn't let four year olds in so I was to under no circumstance to tell them I was four.....I was petrified that they wouldn't let me in, so petrified I still remember it now I'm 37!

Superabound · 22/10/2012 15:59

But surely if all those people who couldn't afford to go to these attractions without lying about ages, stayed at home, the company would not only lose the money from the fraudulent child entry, but also the money paid by adults/siblings. Therefore they would have to put prices up even more, so really those people are doing the po's a favour .

AnnaMS · 22/10/2012 16:00

Perhaps all Theme Parks should base entry on height? My 2 year old DS is the size of some 4-5 year olds and we get strange looks and questions most times we go to Legoland (at entry gates and food places where under 3s are free). I do feel a little guilty that he is free but we can go on all the children's rides where as some older children have to pay but aren't tall enough for all rides. Will have to pay next time we renew our annual passes though.

amck5700 · 22/10/2012 17:03

AnnaMS - not a bad idea, but then you get into the whole issue of paying for a child who is tall enough but who is too scared to go on the rides becasue they are too young. There has to be some way of doing things so they are fair. Age is probably as good a way as any. Personally i'd make the free age a lot lower - say 1 year and it would be easier to police. I think for something like an aquarium, a 1 year old gets as much enjoyment as a 3 year tbh.

EdsRedeemingQualities · 22/10/2012 17:09

Not this Po crap again. FFS

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