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.

I wouldn't do it, personally. If we can't afford the correct entrance fee to something, we don't go. I have been known to leave DH at home if it isn't something he is that interested in to save the money ;) I'd rather do that than lie, personally.

Those who do lie, do you tell your kids to lie? This is what I wouldn't be able to get my head around. Keeping your 13 month old in the buggy and letting checkout person believe they are under 1 is one thing, but telling your child "if anyone asks, you are four" sits very uncomfortably with me. And for this reason I feel lying about kids ages must be something that isn't right, IySwIM, so I wouldn't do it.

pickle i had to reread your post AND mine a few times to understand your confusion

And i stand by what I said. RL Is very different to mn. I don't know many people who wouldn't tell a cheeky fib in this situation

I doubt we will go again anyway. It's £15.00 per adult, £10.00 for a three year old is a lot. I'm not justifying that we didn't pay though.

Things like this make me really sad. Is everyone really dishonest at heart?

It is not ok to do this, it is dishonest and theft not 'a little freebie'. People seem to be proud of getting something for nothing. I often see people patting themselves on the back for getting some benefit they weren't quite entitled to by just omitting a little bit of information. So no op, you were bu and you shouldn't have done it but I think you know that already.

Is this Cotswold? Nah, we all do it... ;-)

(...or get the annual passes. Exceptionally good value when you go 2-3 times a month. It's still good in most weathers too)

I would definatly do this. Anyone who doesn't is a fool, and wasn't it Shakespeare who said a fool and their money are easily parted?

I'd imagine businesses are cognisant of the fact that this is a common occurance and recoup the income within their extortionate entry fees.

oh and therefore YANBU.

"Who doesn't do this?"

Me.

"Nobody on MN ever does anything remotely immoral to get anything cheaply or for free."

I don't do immoral things to get things cheaply or for free.

Nah, we all do it...

NO ... WE ... DON'T

(and Cotswold wildlife park is the largest PRIVATELY owned zoo in the UK - so there is a victim)

Lol, only on MN would this be considered a crime against society.

FFS, I can't believe how sanctimonious people can get about this kind of thing. I paid half fare on public transport (with my parents knowledge, as they were paying the fares!) till I was nearly 18 (half fare stopped at 16 in London at the time.) I remember going to Ireland on a family holiday and was told to say i was 13 if asked cos adult fares on the ferry started at 14. My parents were generally honest and hard working.

I also (shock! horror!) had my first alcoholic drink before the age of 18.

Sometimes the prices defy logic. My 17 year old, still at school full time. has to pay adult prices while my older children, students, early 20s, get a concessionary rate.

YABU - makes everyone else have to pay more. It's theft.

This really is an alternative world! Some people really need to get over themselves.

Zippey Shakespeare also said "honesty is the best policy, if I lose mine honour I lose myself".......

You're lucky you got away with it. My mum used to try do this sort of thing and me and my siblings would go 'Eh? Ob no I'm not x years old mummy, I'm y!' if we overheard her

It's not something I do. If we don't want to pay to go somewhere we just don't go. There's a stately home near us where you pay £15 to get in and look at a few birds in their aviary on the grounds which isn't worth it, but I'd be happy paying £15 at a proper zoo IYSWIM.

Did you pay for your underage booze though, or just steal it?

Many times our DC have been let in for free without us saying anything. Twice at the local zoo, at several sealife centres and at a few theme parks as well.
A few times we've not paid by mistake. I'm never sure if it's under 2/3/4 or 2/3/4 and under IYSWIM.
A couple of times we've said DC was younger outright. When DS2 used to sleep for 3 hours in the buggy it seemed a waste of money to pay full price for him. The alternative would have been for me and him not to go which would mean the attraction getting less money from me.
I know it's dishonest but it's often at places which are a bit of a rip off in the first place. I know that's not an excuse but perhaps if these things were more realistically priced people would be less inclined to try and save money.
I don't see how it's stealing. If a three year old gets in free legitimately and goes on all the suitable rides what changes the day they turn four to make it theft if they aren't paid for?
I would never steal anything, I have walked back to M&S to pay 37p for three carrots I put on the handle of the buggy and forgot to put through the checkout and got the from the cashier.

no we don't all do it, actually.

I have always thought it was a petty thing to do.

I did it. Then we got awarded dla and now I only pay for child as I get in as his carer. Seems strange to me as need an adult anyway but I don't take packed lunch anymore and more than make up my costs through drinks and food!

It's a bit disheartening to read how many people think this is okay.

It really isn't okay and its just plain dishonest.

Yanbu. Pretty sure if everybody paid the full honest price entry fees would still be high