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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Lying about child's age for free admission

801 replies

user1489773847 · 17/03/2017 18:16

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.

OP posts:

Zoflorabore · 17/03/2017 21:16

Is this Chester zoo? They never check.

The people we saw bunking in was unreal.

It is expensive though and people know that when they plan a day out, if we can't afford to go somewhere and not watch every penny then I'd rather not go at all.

We used to go to Chester zoo every easter as we thought the dc liked it, they thought we liked it, turns out nobody really liked it

CrohnicallyPregnant · 17/03/2017 21:19

trainspotting yes, my answer was specifically to whoever said they needed to raise prices to afford e.g. Animal food. Whereas if your price rise is going to take you past the price that people are willing to pay then you need to look at alternatives to just putting the prices up (and I would suggest that if families feel they can't afford it unless they get a child in for free, as people have said on this thread, then you are close to that point).

It's a bell curve isn't it, raise entrance fees and profit/charity money goes up. But past a certain point profitability reduces because you will get fewer people in.

clumsyduck · 17/03/2017 21:19

Ok so I worked in a place with admission prices dependant on age the only time I gave a " really" with massive raised eyebrow is when people would try get an obvious 8 year old in as an under 4 ( am serious !) on the whole of there was even a slim chance the child was around that age I would t ever question it . Also I have done it .

gluteustothemaximus · 17/03/2017 21:19

My children don't lie as a result of getting into a theme park for free a few times, with a just turned 3 year old.

We also pay our Tv licence and taxes. Is lying to get into a zoo a slippery slope to harder criminal activities?

babybythesea · 17/03/2017 21:21

Well no. I realise that. But costs do go up with increased footfall. More food to be ordered at the cafe for example, but if loads people bring picnics it goes to waste. Then with loads of extra people you may need a cleaner or cleaners on site permanently rather than having a contract cleaner in for a few hours after closing.
What I was trying to get at is that there is a point at which having a really low entrance fee, even if it gets you loads of visitors, is less profitable than having a medium entrance fee with not as many visitors. Most zoos have figured out what that point is for them based on where they are, how many tourists visit vs how many locals, how many people are repeat visitors, members etc.

ThoraGruntwhistle · 17/03/2017 21:27

I think it's ridiculous that they start charging at age 2. A 2 year old isn't going to have any recollection of their trip to the zoo when they get older, and they aren't big enough to do very much whilst they're there. At least a 3 or 4 year old might get something out of it and remember going there, by all means charge for them to get in. And if it's Chester zoo, their prices are extortionate as it is, and I wouldn't feel guilty at claiming a 2 year old is 23 months or whatever.

sharktoothcushion · 17/03/2017 21:27

I always round up or round diwn depending on the criteria for admission. 3 months 2 month starts old, admission is free for 3 year olds, he is three.

I am always a bit miffed how when you go to children's places and it cost more for an adult to enter than a child....

It makes much more sense for children's prices to reflect the actual costs, accompanying adults to be free, and to profit off all the coffees and shite we are expected to buy once we are there...

Blinkyblink · 17/03/2017 21:29

Trainspotting
I get that everyone fibs on occasion

But reason I don't want to lie in front of my children is that I'm not "everyone" to them. I'm their parent. It's a bloody important role! And I want them to totally trust me and look up to me. The image of me looking someone in the eyes and lying about their age to save a few quid, is not an image I'm happy with my children having. My children kind of make me want to raise the bar in terms of my behaviour.

sharktoothcushion · 17/03/2017 21:29

Sorry this is the third post I have commented in tonight where predictive text has had a mind of its own! Just updated IOS on the iPad so might have something to do with the unpredictable nonsense!

crazycatgal · 17/03/2017 21:30

If it was a theme park like Alton Towers or something I'd say go for it and lie, but lots of zoos are registered charities, so it's a bit shitty not to pay when you should.

Butteredparsnip1ps · 17/03/2017 21:31

But costs do go up with increased footfall. More food to be ordered at the cafe for example

Sorry, but I am struggling with this. In my experience the mark up on food and drink is extortionate.

corythatwas · 17/03/2017 21:36

I wouldn't. Would feel uncomfortable.

Woobeedoo · 17/03/2017 22:07

There's a soft play place near where I live that prices according to age bracket, so babies up to 1yr are free, 1-5 pay one rate, 5-9 another, you get the picture. I had to stop taking my 3 year old there after a lot of incredibly tall and very solidly built '5 year olds' were allowed to play in the smaller kids section and being utter bullies to the smaller kids. My arse were those kids 5, they were at least 9! The place was staffed by people who either couldn't care less or didn't realise the average 5 year old was not normally that tall......

wavybluesky · 17/03/2017 22:38

i often wonder if some of these places, if they lowered their prices more people would come, therefore make more profit. I sometimes think they price themselves out of business. It's a shame that many families can't afford to go to the zoo because it's too unaffordable.

picklemepopcorn · 17/03/2017 22:44

Is anyone on the other thread about a twelve year old who lied about her age? Interesting juxtaposition!

RufusTheRenegadeReindeer · 17/03/2017 22:47

Yep me pickle

WankingMonkey · 17/03/2017 22:49

What do people say to their older kids about lying to get the youngest in?

Mine are both still tiny, but I imagine not much actual lying is involved. How many older children will actually listen to a parent ordering tickets? unless you have their undivided attention (PLEASE TEACH ME HOW!!) they are unlikely to even realise that you ordered 1 adult and 2 children instead of 3 kids surely?

oobedobe · 17/03/2017 22:49

It's a rip off to charge full-price or child-fare for 2 and up. In Australia and Canada/USA it is usually pay for age 4 and up which makes much more sense.

StarryIllusion · 17/03/2017 22:51

I would. Not if he was 3 or 4 but a few months I would. It's crazy to pay admission for a 2 year old anyway, most places are free under 5. I wouldn't feel too bad about it either. If God cares, he will smite me and so far he hasn't.

AssassinatedBeauty · 17/03/2017 22:57

I don't lie, and I don't go to places as much that therefore become much more expensive.
My eldest is very tall for his age and I have often been given a funny look when I said his age where they clearly doubt what I'm saying. I always carried his "red book" with his hospital-recorded DOB just in case anyone ever got really arsey about it.

ProfessorBranestawm · 17/03/2017 23:00

I had a ticket office person suggest I lie on the trains once. I was buying our tickets to travel on DD's birthday, and he said how old is your DD, I said oh she's five today (so I knew it was the first day we should pay) - he said, so she's four then? I said no she's five. He said so... she's FOUR, yes? And this continued with me standing there like a lemon until I realised what he was getting at. I did concede and just bought a ticket for me but then had to drum it into DD not to go on about being 5 on the way home the next day. Which was really quite stressful.

MrGrumpy01 · 17/03/2017 23:03

I was telling my eldest the other day how on her 2nd birthday we went to a local farm. That was the age that you had to pay from. I said she was still 1, arguing in my head that as she was born at 4pm she was still technically 1.

Karma probably caught up with me the next year when we went for her 3rd birthday (did pay) and her brother fell head first out the swing.

I wouldn't get away with trying to sneak the 5 yr old in as a 4yr old as she would declare very loudly she was 5. A bit like when we went to the zoo and we paid for a disabled guest and carer ticket for my son who very loudly declared 'I'm not disabled' - I had his DLA award letter as he has autism. I wonder if the woman thought I was lying. (using someone's letter)

blackteasplease · 17/03/2017 23:11

I haven't lied to make my kids younger to get in somewhere. I have had someone at a soft play wave me through with a chIlderton just over the cut off.

I have lied to make tall, well behaved DD older to do activities such as archery, zip wires etc when she was 7 3/4 and the cut off was 8.

blackteasplease · 17/03/2017 23:14

Oh and I lied to take them both swimming together on my own when mine were 2 and 7 - I again said older one was 8. (most pools here you have to be 1:1 under three and 1:2 under 8, 8+ can be unsupervised). She could swim well and was supervising her anyway, albeit with DS.

ZackyVengeance · 17/03/2017 23:15

i did it once, ds was i think 8 but if he had been 7 we got in cheaper!!\so I just said ds your 7
(after that I learnt about carers getting in....so we saved that way with dd)

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