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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you lie about kids ages for free entry?

368 replies

coffeeforone · 15/05/2018 15:18

My DS turned two last weekend. We bought advance tickets for an adventure farm on Saturday. Going along with a friend who has a 4 year old and a DD who is 3 months older than DS.

It's free for under 2's and £11 for everyone else. I paid online and bought us all tickets including my DS and her DD, and let my friend know. She is now furious with me as I have apparently wasted £22 by paying for my DS and her DD. She says its normal not to pay for about a year after the cut off, and was shocked that I paid. TBH it didn't cross my mind when booking, but thinking about it they would never know. WIBU?

OP posts:
MorelloKisses · 15/05/2018 15:20

I don’t

scaredofthecity · 15/05/2018 15:22

I do, especially when it's the option of doing the activity or not being able to afford it. My DS has just turned 3 and I don't see what difference a few months makes.
Passing a 4 yo as under 2 is more than pushing it though!

TeresasGreen · 15/05/2018 15:22

I did once by accident. I wouldn't deliberately stretch it by a year though. That said, I wish I had once, when we paid £18 to get DNephew into a children's farm that was truly shit.

JenBarber · 15/05/2018 15:23

Yes, I have.

Not proud of it but am not well off and don't want DS to miss out.

I do feel large amounts of shame when I do it.

MaryThorne · 15/05/2018 15:23

YANBU, others might disagree but I would have paid. Lying about ages to not pay is dishonest and (probably- I'm a bit out of date and it's not my specialism) technically a criminal offence under the Theft Act.

fullponty · 15/05/2018 15:24

Everybody does it in real life.

Not on MN though Grin

thatwhichwecallarose · 15/05/2018 15:24

I have done. We went to legoland last year 2 weeks after DD turned 3. I’m not paying their prices for the sake of two weeks!!

SunshineandRain18 · 15/05/2018 15:24

I wouldn't have paid for a just turned 2 year old tbh! 4 years I would have.

mummyof2boys30 · 15/05/2018 15:25

I will be doing opposite and saying Ds is 6 when imhes 5 as he wants to do driving school at legoland. lol

Sparklingbrook · 15/05/2018 15:26

I didn't do it on MN or in RL.

NotUmbongoUnchained · 15/05/2018 15:26

Only on MN really.
I don’t know anyone in real life who would pay if they didn’t have to.

BigPinkBall · 15/05/2018 15:26

It depends, if it’s a couple of quid I just pay but there’s a soft play near us that starts charging at 12 months, it’s £5.45 plus £1 per adult and as dd didn’t even start crawling until 13 months it didn’t seem worth paying entry so she could sit on a mat, I did however buy lots of food and coffees while I was there.

elliejjtiny · 15/05/2018 15:26

No, although I took dc1 to legoland for his birthday treat the day before his 3rd birthday instead of on his birthday so it would be free.

Ylvamoon · 15/05/2018 15:27

It depends what activity it is. I did it for one of the theme parks as most rides have night restrictions and DS is small for his age. So he wasn't allowed on the bigger rides anyway...
If it's for children / toddlers than you should pay...

CircleofWillis · 15/05/2018 15:27

I don’t lie but at all you can eat places where 3 and under go cheaper or free I always ask if my 4 year old can be counted as a 3 year old as she is tiny and eats less than a bird. So far no-one has even blinked an eye before saying ‘yes’.

Have always paid proper amount at excursion venues. I just choose ones I can afford.

MrsPicklesonSmythe · 15/05/2018 15:29

I have done at soft play where I was being charged what I thought was a piss take for an adult entry. I really resent inflated adult entry prices for soft play, not like they aren’t making enough out of me already with overpriced drinks etc.

Brokit · 15/05/2018 15:30

Everybody does it in real life.
No they don't. It's dishonest at best and theft at worst.

I think it's a terrible example to set to your children that it's ok to cheat and lie to get what you want.

WilyMinx · 15/05/2018 15:34

Yep, I did do it for a few months after son turned 3 and was charged for everything. Did it for myself as well; Paid child fare at 13, 14 years old and got away with it.

Original poster
coffeeforone · 15/05/2018 15:35

To clarify, my friend was happy to pay for her 4 year old. It was my DS and her DD (both recently turned 2) that she thinks we shouldn't have paid for. I wish it had crossed my mind not to pay as I didn't even consider it!

For soft plays etc, my DS was tall and a good walker by one, so I never thought about not paying. Since DS has just turned 2 i've never really come across this dilemma for more expensive entries until now!

OP posts:
Ragwort · 15/05/2018 15:37

My teenage DS does so that he can get in at the U16 rate Blush.

Years ago MIL bought me a 'senior' ticket for an event without thinking - no one questioned me when I went in with it.

NotAnotherUserName5 · 15/05/2018 15:38

No. wouldn't do that.

My kids would definitely speak up and correct me anyway Grin

ILoveMyDressingGown · 15/05/2018 15:39

When I can get away with it, yes I do!

SunshineandRain18 · 15/05/2018 15:39

I think it's a terrible example to set to your children that it's ok to cheat and lie to get what you want.

Overreaction right there!

Sparklingbrook · 15/05/2018 15:39

Those that say everyone does are just saying that to make themselves feel better because they do.

Mermaid36 · 15/05/2018 15:39

I have a 2 year old twin who is on oxygen and unable to walk (but can crawl with an adult next to her carrying her oxygen)...I will often ask if we can pay the lower price (for babies) or get her in for free in some places as she is often unable to do the same activities as her sister at places like soft play.
We usually get given the lower price/free entry for her