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.

Get ready for your kid to pipe up that they are 2 and feel the shame.

Catsize:

Same here if I want to go to the theatre but I'd rather not pay for my ticket. Extortionate!

Yes the theatre ticket is the same

Say you are 34. 5 yo and you have to pay for your theater ticket because under 34s go free. Would you still think it was fair and you wouldnt lie? You and your 33 yo friend will have the exact same experience but hers will be free and yours wont because you are 6 months older.

yes i know you will not reply Trifle* as you are childish but that does not stop me posting

At last Sukie, we found something we can agree on! God this is wearing

I'm quite confused about this 'individually morality' business...

We are talking about telling a lie to get services without paying, and doing it in front of your children.

Some of us choose to do that, others don't. That is the individual bit, yes?

The fact that some choose to do it and others don't doesn't change the fact that deception is involved, and that people are not paying for services that they are expected to.

I haven't called anyone immoral. If you think it's immoral to do that but you do it anyway, that is for you and your conscience.

It's interesting how angry a very few posters are getting about the fact that some of say we don't do it, because we don't want to lie or get services for free which we are expected to pay for. Why does that get you so agitated?

Mactweedy - oh the horror of your suggestion! What will your DS become!

On a lighter note, hope your DS has a lovely time (at legoland?) and you're able to use what would be his £45 entrance fee on a lovely big lego present in the shop for his birthday!

Im not angry in the slightest.

I would and have done it and nothing anyone has said on here will make me feel like a bad person.
I am amused by the very black and white thinking and I do wonder how many of you lead whiter than white lives but I am not angry at any poster.

Back in the day, my ex and I were on holiday and we had taken my young brother with us. We went to a touristy place in Devon and when I got to the ticket booth the assistant said "Adult and 2 kids?" My ex was mid 20s by then, though he did have a young face. I happily paid and we all had ice-cream with the money saved!

Re:Lego,and trip, you'll always know the trip was dishonest. Likewise, I quite fancied taking my family to Disneyland Paris for my daughter's 3rd birthday. 3 is the cut-off age. I looked into weird and wonderful ways of doing it to make it more affordable but couldn't justify the price hike because she would turn 3 during the trip. So, we didn't go.
I would never say to my child 'if anyone asks, say you're 2' or whatever, just to save money. Not exactly the best example for children.

*The admission price would be lower if everyone paid what they owed. Anyway, nobody "needs" to lie. They choose to.

Yes, admission prices are high, due to high running costs*

I don't agree, I think they just know they can get away with charging stupid amounts so they do. Toddlers getting in free, who are often in buggies asleep or not even paying attention do not cause higher prices.

How do they explain the stupid amounts they charge for food and drinks? Photographs? A McDonalds can suddenly become twice the price if it is inside an attraction. An ice cream that probably costs about 50p to put together is charged at several pounds. A family of several people fancy an ice cream each it all adds up. Ridiculous. If they had more reasonable prices less people would not feel the need to dodge Child tickets.

By the end of a day out at an attraction it can cost as much as a holiday or weekend away.

d0ris

Something being expensive doesn't make it okay to take it without paying. If I can't afford the train and I don't buy a ticket, I am liable. What is the difference?

We went to Disneyland paris during the same week DD just turned 3. No one questioned it. We didn't challenge it.

We had the most amazing holiday, and don't feel guilty at all.

Something being expensive doesn't justify avoiding paying for it, be it an attraction or goods. I can't afford lots of things, so O don't have them. Easy.

Yes the theatre ticket is the same hmm

Say you are 34. 5 yo and you have to pay for your theater ticket because under 34s go free. Would you still think it was fair and you wouldnt lie?

This is similar to the situation with 'Senior Citizen' discounts, though, isn't it? If you were 59, would you think it was OK to pretend to be 60 to get 1/3 off your ticket because you'd be having 'the same experience'?

It's shabby, mean behaviour whatever age groups are involved. Any argument that relies on the idea that 'everybody does it so it must be OK' is flawed from the outset.

I am a bad lier. Our youngest is much smaller than most of his age so frequently gets taken for much younger. I don't correct people who make his ticket a child ticket. I used to, but people never changed even when told.

My sister and I were tall so our mother had lots of hassle at different stages - she had to carry my birth certificate around to get me on buses when I was 3 (child fare from 4 where we were) because no-one would believe my age; when I started school someone took one look and directed me to year 3! But friends of ours were all so tiny that for several years they could go to the zoo as one "child" taking her under-age siblings out for the day...

Something being expensive doesn't make it okay to take it without paying.

When the rest of the family have paid the extortionate entrance prices, bought food and drinks etc at extortionate prices, it's hardly taking without paying just because you have dodged a child fare because they are a little above the cut off point.

Lots do I imagine. The problem for anyone doing it arrises when asked for proof.

I would not deny a nearly pensioner cheaper fish and chips just because they are a few months off. I would not go around calling them liars, thiefs and shabby either.

I have seen the poorest of children who I know would not experience a fun day out as a family if that trip cost another £15 for their baby sister. I have seen the elderly joyful at their 1 fish and chip supper of the week which they can only afford because the women behind the counter assumes hes a pensioner.
I wint judge them because what right do I gave and I wont label them as I have no idea what its like to live like they do.

Thats where we differ and I have no problem with that Arch

All the posters saying, 'dishonest', 'stealing', 'fraudulent' 'lying' etc etc
Have none of you ever lied, or been dishonest, or stolen anything ever in your life?

d0ris: Yes, it is. I'm sorry to say it because I understand how expensive these things can be for families, but the price is advertised and you don't have to go.

Deadsouls:

As it happens, I did, once. I am was ashamed, am regretful and wouldn't do it again.

All the posters saying, 'dishonest', 'stealing', 'fraudulent' 'lying' etc etc
Have none of you ever lied, or been dishonest, or stolen anything ever in your life?

Most of them probably have a lot of money and no worries when it comes to paying to take their kids to interesting places.

you'll always know the trip was dishonest

I wouldn't and haven't given it a second thought once we got through the gate.

I have seen the poorest of children who I know would not experience a fun day out as a family if that trip cost another £15 for their baby sister. I have seen the elderly joyful at their 1 fish and chip supper of the week which they can only afford because the women behind the counter assumes hes a pensioner.

But a 'fun day out' doesn't have to mean an expensive theme park or zoo. It's only relatively recently that the notion has developed that everyone is somehow 'entitled' to theme park/zoo type trips, or that these are automatically more 'fun' than a cheaper day out.

As for fish and chips - 'pensioner' portions are smaller - they'll usually serve them to anyone who wants a smaller portion, and even if they don't, it's not really comparable because in that case, you are paying for less and receiving less.

trifleorbust
It's obvious that you feel very strongly about this issue. No parents should ever pretend that their 3 year children is a 2 year old ever (for example) to gain free entry.
That much is clear, I accept that you feel this way and you would never do it and you have strong views about people who do.

However, can you accept that people do and have and will continue to do this? And they don't care or feel guilty, or feel they need to justify themselves.

d0ris: Not at all. I have had no money. I am not poor now but am by no means rich. There are lots of things I would like but can't afford.