Lying about child's age for free admission

[user1489773847]

Costing out a day trip to the zoo, now that DC has turned two have to factor in their ticket cost. DH says that we should just say he isn't yet two so it's free, and that everyone does it. Just wondered what the general consensus is on this? I feel bad lying but see his point that DS is still pretty young and could end up napping through a lot of it so won't necessarily benefit.

Sorry -zillions of typos

You can't make a moral argument for lying here. You just can't. It's the wrong thing to do, at least be honest enough to admit it

Then you're not trying hard enough.

Nope, you aren't.

I used to work at a well known tourist attraction in London. Under 5s went free. Many people would claim their children some of whom looked 7 or 8 were under 5. We were told not to challenge them. However some of them changed their stories when they learned kids under 5 were not allowed in the planetarium next door for which we sold a joint ticket. Quite interesting conversations followed.

Frankly I think it is ridiculous to charge a 2 year old. In some attractions, cinemas etc a 14 year old is charged adult price.

My eldest child was a 'child' for a year or so longer (small and skinny) so we could still use family tickets, otherwise we would probably not have gone at all. I am sure the zoo would prefer you to visit; secondary spend - guide book, cafe, shop etc is all important.

I wouldn't, because I'm not a scumbag.

I won't lie if there's a risk a child wouldn't be insured, eg saying they are old enough to do something they aren't. And I assume teens claiming to be under 16 is why theme parks child prices are only a tiny bit cheaper than adults. But I will happily take advantage of my kids being assumed to be younger than they are - if the parks cared that much they could ask for proof like they do for disabled people. Not getting into the whole issue of parks only accepting certain PIP as sufficient proof of not being able to queue.

If zoos etc frequently had to close because they'd reached their max number of visitors, then there'd be more of an argument that an extra young child was depriving them of income, but as they are desperate for footfall, offering free returns within a year, that can't be the case.

It's like letting a mate in through the back door of the cinema or nightclub.
Going on the tram without paying.
Picking up money off the floor and not looking for the owner.

Easy to see it as a victimless crime.

Still dishonest, still lying.

People used to feel like this about drink driving.

Such hyperbole!

I would lie but..........we said to ticket person "shes nearly 3".Cue flappy ears pipping up "I am 3 i am not nearly 3. My name is x not nearly x" Cue embarrassed grin at nice ticket person......

The way I look at it is, would I feel hard done by and let down if somebody lied to me about the money they owed me?

If ds for instance gave me the wrong change back for something I'd given him money to buy and didn't tell me he had got the item cheaper? Would I feel that there was a moral dimension here, that apart from being unfair on me as a person, he was quite simply wrong to do it? And yes, the answer is, I would feel that. Even if it was a very small sum of money, I would want to feel that my son was honest. And if my son needs to be honest, then chances are his mother does too.

Of course lie.
And to those who say it's fraudulent remember that you wouldn't be there if it wasn't for the kid anyway and the venue is presumably getting full whack ticket price from at least one adult, often two! Who wouldn't be there otherwise.

Frazzled2207:

Oh come on. If I go to Tesco's and spend £15 on shopping, then walk out with a spare chicken in my handbag, can I console myself by saying they should be grateful for my business? It is still stealing.

It must ve so difficult to live in a world where others do not share your rigid black and white feelings.

I know people who dont lie but whos morals are in the gutter. The two are not mutally exclusive.

I would not think anyone who lies about their childs age to get in to a venue will also be stealing my purse as their next act.

Exactly Sookie. That people are equating it to shoplifting and larceny just shows their own inability to think for themselves.

Im 22 and still get the Under18's day rider ( slightly annoying that they never even question it) because its £2 rather than £6 .I am not ashamed of doing this because i am skint and £6 is ridiculous.

No just say she's younger then two but make sure you have a story ready with a DOB that makes her young enough.
Enjoy it. The best stuff in life is free

"Think for themselves"

Spartacus it just shows you how some people think and that is worrying.

I said my 2.6 yo was 2 so i did not have to pay admission. Being 6 months older than 2 does not mean she can suddenly get on rides or enjoy the experience more.

Very different from me stealing a TV from Tesco as what I will gain from stealing it is the same as if I had bought it.

How posters can see the 2 the same baffles me

To be honest I'm and Sookie, I'm not that bothered by what you do. It is, by definition, lying and cheating. Fraud. Deceit. If you want to do it, that's fine. I wouldn't dob you in, if I knew you were doing it, I just wouldn't do it myself. Because it is wrong. Not very subtle I know, but true none the less. I haven't even told anyone they shouldn't do it! Just named it what it is. If you are uncomfortable with that, then ask yourself why.

I am not uncomfortable with somebody who says those words. I dont know you and you dont know me so call me what you like.
I just think that rigid black and white way of thinking is very wrong.
I hope nobody close to you ever does it as you will probably accuse them of stealing from you and then cut all contact

12 pages and still people who don't understand that this is not stealing.

MN might claim to be a moral forum but it's not a smart one

You are teaching your children that it's OK to lie about their ages in order to get something they shouldn't have.
Great! So they know it's OK to buy alcohol or tobacco or knives by pretending to be older than they are.

Also I am still laughing 4 pages on about the question about whether they're insured for the children of lying parents 😭

Yeah normal kids do that too glad. Luckily shops are much stricter now than they were in my day...

I am sure my parents lied to get me in to places. I dont remember seen as I was so little.

If my child remembers me lying about her age when she was 2/3 and turns in to a cheating thieving scumbag because of it I will be sure to take full responsibility because I lied to get her in to Flamingo land