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.

They can ask for proof if they think the child looks 16 or over (I'd imagine that would mean a birth certificate if they didn't have a passport).

www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/46494.aspx

She doesn't carry her birth certificate strangely! This is something she does without me so she does her own lying!! So proud, not!

Here is someone discussing what happened to them in this situation on a rail forum.

Different circumstances. She knows she is in the wrong(my DD) so will have to face the consequences.

AldrinJustice:

If there is nothing wrong with it, why would you mind if they did?

Am still not seeing anything here beyond vague protestations that "zoos get plenty" and because you're poor it's fine to be dishonest. Unless you would be fine with someone siphoning off your electricity or sneaking into your house at night to take your food because they are poorer than you (although at least those people would have the excuse that food and electricity are essentials) that not morality. It's just excuses. Whether or not they are making lots of money, a zoo, a train company, a theme park, has the right to set its ticket prices where they see fit. Yes, if you struggle to afford days out then your children will sometimes miss out, but I would struggle to afford horse riding lessons - doesn't mean I am going to sneak my DD into the local stables after dark and saddle up a pony

I have lied for my youngest child as she was always small for her age. I think the period I did it for was about 3 months so maybe s couple of attractions and a bus ride.
I didnt feel bad as we were paying for 2 adults & 2 older children. We bought drinks & ice creams at inflated prices and perhaps something from the gift shop too, so not an otherwise cheap day out.
I stopped saying she was 2 when I felt we had "got away with it" long enough.
Then when she was 4, as we paid to go in an attraction, i said she's 4, the cashier said, she doesnt look 4, I'd put her down as younger. I then realised she'd charged a lower price for her once we got inside.
I didnt go back to pay the extra but wondered if i should have insisted.

I remember getting kids fair buses to the pub going from under 15 on way there to my actual 21 in the pub. I would never get id'ed whilst out though. So figure most drovers or people on enterance to things cant be bothered woth hassel so just give you what you ask for.

Yeah it's technical wrong and you'll get a lot of people telling you it is and that they'd never do it on MN.

In rl though, I think your Dh is right in that generally it's rife. We've done it a couple of times, at a theme park and at Longleat where it was either free or something like £50. I don't let it keep me up at night.

I used to use my son as an excuse to go for a pee in pubs and cafes. Nobody refuses when you ask if you can take your cute little boy to the loo. Until he started arguing with me when he was 3. "I don't need a wee, Mummy, really. I really really don't, Mummy."
Same on the bloody buses. "I'm four now Mummy, I'm four now, aren't I? I'm a big boy now, aren't I Mummy?"
This was the child who, after I'd accidentally knocked him over one morning, went up to a complete stranger in the street and said, "My mummy hit me and I fell over."
My daughter was a more reliable co-conspirator, being both small for her age and easily led.

trifle. Saying a 3 year old is 2 to get a free ticket into the theme park and breaking into a riding stable to ride their horses are not the same thing in the slightest!

Every family attraction knows people do this! It's the reason they start prices from such a young age. It's because they know it will be probably a year after that age that people will ACTUALLY start paying!

I've worked in a few attractions in the past and they all said this. So if They want children to pay from age 3 they will state that children should pay from age 2. In the hope that by the time the child does reach age 3 they can no longer pass for 2 year old and will therefore start to pay.

@Trifleorbust eh? I wouldn't mind. I never said I would mind in any of my posts...are you feeling ok?

Porpoiselife: It isn't different in a meaningful way. It is taking something to which you are not entitled.

AldrinJustice:

What I meant was, would you mind your teenagers being liars?

To all the 'I'll lie to get in brigade', do you feel zero guilt about the 'mugs' who have paid?
I went to an event recently, having paid for two adults and two kids who'd sit on our knees. In front of me was a man explaining he's only bought one ticket for him and his three year old as she'd just sit on his knee. The rules were clear when buying tickets. All over 1s had to have a ticket, regardless of whether a seat was taken.
The staff were put in a very awkward position and had to let the man and daughter in so as not to disappoint the child. I agree with what they did, as the event was about to start, and there was a big queue, but how is it fair on others who have paid?
Or do you just adopt a 'life's not fair, you're a mug for paying' attitude. It was a charity event, if that makes any difference (probably not to most of you, it seems).

Once I'm in, I don't give it a second thought

Are you flying? Have you given the correct age for the flight? He won't be allowed to fly as an infant if he's over two

Just seen this. No not flying. U.K. Holiday

I don't think anything of the other customers. If they want to pay full price, that's up to them.

do you feel zero guilt about the 'mugs' who have paid?

Pretty much. Given the amount of people on this thread who say they do it, I imagine many wouldn't have paid.

@trifleorbust how does "I'm going to tell the zoo staff my son is a few months younger than he is so I can get a free ticket"

Equate to

"My teenagers are going to be liars"

it was a charity event, if that makes any difference (probably not to most of you, it seems)

How dare you make that assumption. A money making corporation is hardly a charity isn't it?

And to answer your question - I don't feel any guilt. Why should I? I don't make my financial decisions on how other people manage their finances. What a ridiculous idea.

"Oh darling why don't we pay the full price because I feel bad the couple in front of us did"

AldrinJustice:

You said you don't mind if they know you did this, ie that you lied to save money, because you don't think it's wrong. So I assume you don't mind if they follow your example.

@trifleorbust do you honestly think a child at 2 would remember? That was my point. They won't remember into their teenagers years what happened that one day at the zoo. So no I don't mind them knowing that.

And if they were ever in a position where they had to save money because they had a family of their own and finances to balance and they lied about their own kids age to save a few bob on an entrance fee, no I wouldn't mind. It's how the world works.

Judging by the posts on this thread you can clearly see now that a white lie about a child's age to save on fares is a common thing.

Good luck on your quest to change the world one struggling parent at a time. I'm sure they will thank you for it.

Aldrin

Trufle does not want to change the world.
She just wants everyone in it to behave and be just like her with black and white views. She has zero empathy for anyone in a different situation.

AldrinJustice:

Fair enough, you don't mind if they lie. That's your choice. I think it's wrong and I think hiding behind 'struggling parent' when we're talking about stuff you don't need is a pretty lame excuse.