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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

375 replies

Kasterborous · 25/03/2015 14:56

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.

OP posts:
TowerRavenSeven · 25/03/2015 22:27

'Who doesn't do this'? We didn't do this. I remember my parents saying, "Today you are 10" instead of 11 and not giving me any reason. It was confusing, and now, embarrassing.

Never have done it, would never do it.

BrilliantineMortality · 25/03/2015 22:45

It happens the other way as well - the other week we went to a local attraction and paid the full fee for DD who is 4 years old (I just said "two adults and a child"). It was only when I noticed the entry charges that I realised children under 5 get in half price.

I thought it would be churlish to claim back the money (it was a couple of quid, which we can afford), but I'll definitely state DD's age when paying for attractions in the future!

hooker29 · 25/03/2015 23:06

I've done this a couple of times.The soft play area I use as a CM charges £2.50 for children over the age of 1. The 1 year old I have just crawls around the floor under the table and chairs-he doesn't go into the soft play area at all as he wants to be near me;nor does he have the free juice and biscuits that the older one's have.So at the moment he's ten and a half months old.....
One of the campsites we use has an indoor pool with a water slide in it (not a great big steep one-quite gentle really) and children had to be 6 before they could use it on their own. DD was 6 very early on............

ChrissieLatham · 25/03/2015 23:22

YANBU it's only 24 days since she would've been free and it's not like there would be any change to what she did then as she does now

Catsize · 26/03/2015 08:14

How far does your argument extend Chrissie? Confused

fluffymouse · 26/03/2015 09:18

At peppa pig world dd crouched down to get free entry as under 1m , then stood up tall inside to get on the over 1m rides. She is a sneaky one!

In my defence I didn't realise she was already over 1m when buying the tickets: she was only just turned 3 but very tallbfor her age.

whatsthatcomingoverthehill · 26/03/2015 10:16

We went to a petting farm for my DD's 3rd birthday (on the day), and it was free for under 3s, £10 for over. Given that she was so excited and telling everyone it was her birthday there was no way we'd get away with saying she was 2. I did tell the person at the till that really she wasn't 3 until 6pm, but she wasn't having any of it. Pissed me off a bit seeing as there were 4 adults paying full price too. If ever there was a time for some good customer relations then that was it. We haven't been back since.

bananayellow · 26/03/2015 10:31

Days out are expensive. I've done it in the past. We've probably had more overall days out because of it and spent more in the restaurants/gift shops, over all. Win win.

babybythesea · 26/03/2015 10:44

I used to work for a zoo.

I can't think of many zoos who are rolling in money. Most spend it on, you know, looking after the animals, building better enclosures for them, feeding them, paying staff to turn up and take care of them. Many zoos live on a hand to mouth basis - you don't get a large salary if you become a zoo keeper!
The people who don't pay and are smug about it then say "if you didn't charge so much we wouldn't do it" but the charges are set precisely because people try and fiddle you out of it. If we charged less, people would still try and get their kids in for free and we'd have even less money. "We buy in the gift shop and in the cafe." Well, some might, but it's not a massive source of revenue - if you've got a cafe it's an extra building to heat, food to buy in, staff to cook it and sell it....... And lots of people just take a picnic anyway.
Charges are based on how many people are likely to attend on an annual basis, what they spend where, and how much is needed to keep the place going. If fewer poeple are coming, charges will go up, if a significant proportion of people who do come slither out of paying, then charges will go up.

This isn't a sob story, it's just how it is. These places are not rolling in money. The expenditure is huge. The high entrance fees could be reduced slightly if everybody paid their way but we know people don't, so the entrance fees go up accordingly to ensure that we have enough coming in to cover running costs. So it's a stupid argument to say it's a victimless crime. You might not pay now and you can congratulate yourself, but you will pay later on with higher fees than you might otherwise have had to do.

CocobearSqueeze · 26/03/2015 10:45

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

HighwayDragon · 26/03/2015 10:56

We take a pushchair out for full days, we've not had to pay for dd yet, no one's ever asked (shes 5.2)

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 26/03/2015 11:03

We take a pushchair out for full days, we've not had to pay for dd yet, no one's ever asked (shes 5.2)

You put your 5 year old in a pushchair to save a few quid on an optional, just-for-fun day out?

That is really wrong on so many levels.

HighwayDragon · 26/03/2015 11:05

No I put my 5yo in a pushchair because she still has a daytime nap, it jyst so happens that we've never been asked how old she is

fluffymouse · 26/03/2015 11:46

Five is very old for a pushchair, I agree. I'm surprised her weight hasn't broken the pushchair. (And does dd not feel embarrassed at that age? Do you not think the exercise would be beneficial?)

Dieu · 26/03/2015 11:48

It's what I would have done too OP, if I'm honest.

nerfgunsftw · 26/03/2015 11:51

Give the child the entry fee to spend in the tat shop at the end. The park still gets the cash and it saves you from having to pay for toy/book.

babybythesea · 26/03/2015 11:57

But the park has to pay for the tat in the first place, so they get less money overall even if you have spent the same. You aren't doing them a favour by buying stuff in the gift shop instead.

Exwhy · 26/03/2015 12:18

I wonder how much Jessica Alba saved?

To lie about DD's age to get her in free?
Enough27 · 26/03/2015 12:23

Can't believe how many dishonest people there are out there! Also can't believe how many people don't believe that many of us would never do this. I could not contemplate acting in such a dishonest way. And no one I know would either.

Does being honest really make one sanctimonious?? And no I wouldn't break a speed limit either, or keep £10 I found on the ground, or any excess change given to me by a retailer.

Surely people can see this behaviour is wrong? This thread has been an eye opener!

dobedobedo · 26/03/2015 12:29

This thread is hilarious Grin

cupcakesandapples · 26/03/2015 12:33

Tell u where id happily fib- all u can eat restaurants. Even at 3 my dd would only pick at bits off my plate- i would not be thrilled to pay £5+ for her to eat a few spoons of mash/couple of chips etc.

However she would now likely out me by declaring that she is three!

browneyedgirl86 · 26/03/2015 12:33

I think people who do this are shameless. I look young and when going to a outdoor show recently DP was asked if I were a child! We were both mortified!

I don't like people that do this. It's dishonest. And it's teaching children it's ok to lie.

HighwayDragon · 26/03/2015 12:47

Dd weighs 16kg and is 101cms tall, she's small for her age. We take it on long day trips because she has a daytime nap.

Morelikeguidelines · 26/03/2015 13:16

I would only do it if I thought the policy was rridiculous, eg charging for baby under 1 who is getting no enjoyment but accompanying sibling. I did say my 6 month old was 5 months (at the time) for this reason.

Generally verbal children grass you up, plus you get into a minefield if you ask them to lie which can be dangerous child protection wise (worst case extremely scenario).

CornChips · 26/03/2015 13:25

Well, I don't care if I seem pious, but I do not do this. I think it is wrong, and yes I think it sets a dreadful example to your children; 'Lying is bad unless it benefits you in some way'.

I remember the scorn I felt a a teen when my aunt and uncle pretended their large strapping 17 year old son was only 15 at an all you can eat chinese buffet, because 5 or under got in for free. I hand on heart never really respected them again.