To lie about DD's age to get her in free?

[Kasterborous]

I'm prepared to be told I was being unreasonable. We took DD who turned three 24 days ago to our local Wildlife park today. Under three they get in free, over three it's £10.00 which seems a lot so we said she was two. I know it was dishonest and next time we will pay for her.

Most people do it. You really do get some very self-riteous people on here. How is it taking money away from the zoo if an adult is visiting at full price?!

LOLOL. You really can't work the maths out? Child entry is £X, under 4s go free... That's a loss of £X if you lie.

I'm not self righteous at all. I just find it amusing that people try to justify it when they wouldn't think "Oh, my Tesco shop is far too expensive. I'll justshove this bottle of wine in my bag and not pay for it."

There really is no difference between stealing an item and stealing services. Do its or don't do it but don't try to claim it's not stealing from the company providing the service.

Big deal, they shouldn't be so greedy charging extortionate (and often adult) prices for 4 year old children then. Not being funny but this seems to be quite an site with a lot of affluent, SE mothers- it's very easy to be morally correct when you have a lot of money to throw around.

Would you take a bottle of wine from the supermarket because you felt your shopping was over priced?

Not the same at all... Jesus Christ some of you are dull

Anyway, as I said: do it or don't do it but be honest (ha!) about the fact that you are actually stealing services.

Of course it's the same. It's stealing.

I often think people begin to insult those who have a different opinion when they have run out of anything interesting or useful to say.

Honest != dull.

Perhaps flamingoland thinks it's ok to steal designer label clothes if you can only afford chain store prices.

Do you tell your children that theft is ok and honesty is dull flamingoland? Would you tell your children that deception is fine as long as it gets you what you want?

Took DS1 (16) to an artificial ski-slope before his school ski trip, as he'd never been ski-ing before and it was suggested it would be good to have a go before the trip. His friend (15) - same school year, same ski trip had also gone to the same place and his mum recommended it.

DS1, as he is 16+ should have gone in one of the more expensive adult classes. His friend had gone in a children's class as he was 15 years and 10 months old. We put DS1 in a children's class and also paid for DS2 (14) to go along too, as both boys had had some money from grandparents for Christmas and it seemed a fun thing for them to do together.

I paid about £10 less for DS1, was able to book an afternoon, rather than an evening session, and DS2 went too. Was I wrong to do this as DS1 was 16 years, one month and two days old? Is someone going to say they would have paid the adult price for DS1, but asked to put him in a children's session?

I'm another one who has never lied about dds age. I find it interesting that there are those who wouldnt believe me. I guess if you can't trust yourself, then how can you possibly trust others.

Cannot believe the people justifying this here. If u can't afford it without stealing,don't go! It's very black n white.

We did this last week,said ds was under 5-he's actually 6. I don't see the big deal.

When airlines and holiday firms and various other organisations stop charging for children age 12 and above adult prices then I might reconsider my position on slipping my three year old into a theme park as a two year old.

I don't think I've ever lied about the DCs ages to get them in anywhere; I suspect they're so gobby they'd correct me if I even tried. But we're in the position where we can do trips/activities often without having to worry about the impact on our finances, so I agree that we're fortunate.

SoupDragon. Thank you for your comparison. It's exactly the one I use to explain why it's wrong to get into places without paying. Entry prices are marked according to the in and outgoings of the business. Because people were lying and taking advantage at my venue I had to put the prices up. Lying affects everyone.

We found honesty pays. Most places would let DD in anyway for the cheaper price when we said her age.

In fact one place let her in as an under 6 recently without us asking although she looks 10. Mind you she didn't use any of the equipment for older kids so that was good awareness from them.

The fact that lots of people do this doesn't make it right or reasonable. Of course it's dishonest and wrong (and yes I've done it),

When airlines and holiday firms and various other organisations stop charging for children age 12 and above adult prices then I might reconsider my position on slipping my three year old into a theme park as a two year old.

Good analogy. And when fancy restaurants stop charging over the odds for meals, I will stop stealing food from my local corner shop.

I've never lied because I would feel too guilty. I find it easier to just pay up than lie and feel stressed and wrong about it. My mum has lied though when she's taken any of the children out and is open about it. It is wrong, of course. But as others have said the places could crack down on it if they wanted to and make people produce evidence like you do for disability/carer concessions.

It goes on at Tesco too, apparently when people can scan their own shopping. They hope they won't be selected for a random check and put loads in that they haven't scanned. A sales assistant told me that it always happens more just before people's pay days are due. There is no way I could ever do such a thing. Where does it end? A boundary needs to be clear from the outset.

I must point out that when DD was 3/4 her disability wasnt as obvious so people who let her in anyway were thinking she was NT and not making allowances

I generally think each to their own.. but if people are claiming carers concessions if they aren't carer then they are lowest of the low.

I can't see how that's the same at all eastmidlandsmummy.

12 year olds categorically are NOT adults and should not be charged as such but I don't see anyone moaning about that.

NickiFury, what does defrauding a theme park have to do with an airline's policy on adult fares?? If you have a problem with holiday firms, don't take it out on a zoo!

It has everything to do with it. Why do huge profit making organisations have the right to charge excessively for children to use their facilities? Charging them as adults, rather than the children they are. Why is that ok and we all pay unquestioningly? Yet when I look at my three year old toddler and deem that he will not be able to use the facilities anymore than he was able to a week ago when he was two, then I am a big old dishonest thief?

It's exactly the same (although involving MUCH larger sums of money).

I don't seek to make you agree with me by the way, think what you like but I do not accept anyone's judgment that that makes me a anymore of a thief than the sanctioned thievery of organisations as above.