Do you lie about kids ages for free entry?

[coffeeforone]

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?

It's human nature isn't it, can't see the wrong in it.Half the time they're ripping us off anyway.

I'd pay the entry, but I think it would be pretty common to adjust the age when it was literally last weekend (your DS) and maybe also up to six months after.

Nope but I have a very tall almost 6 yo and when she was free we were challenged by venues accusing us of lying about her age - she is already in age 8-9 clothes and the tallest in her year

Everyone used to do it at Chester zoo, until they introduced cheeky monkey passes for over twos....They are still free but when you have to have to show a pass, it makes sneaking a 3 year old In a bit more tricky 😔

Those who think this is OK, would you dodge a bus fare? Or steal from a shop just because you think you can get away with it? If not why is this any different?

Yes. Any day of the week.

I would, if DD1 wasn't so tall! She looks older than she is, so it's hard enough to make people believe her actual age let alone lie!
Probably will for tiny DD2 though.

No, but I've been sorely tempted. I don't mind so much where the child price is significantly lower than the adult price, but often they are almost the same. You then end up paying a lot for a 2 year old who will get tired after an hour or not be able to go on most rides etc.

I remember my mum getting me a half bus fare at age 19 (I believe the cut-off was age 12). We were literally living on the poverty line though - the alternative was to walk several miles.

I don't know if I would or not because I never think about it until too late.

I once had a bus driver do it on my behalf though, I got on and asked for 1 adult and 1 child to Timbuktu and he said 'how old is the child and I said 5, and the bus driver said "4?" and I said, "no, he's 5", the driver looked at me and said "so that's 1 adult a a FREE wink Under 5" I was spectacularly dim-witted about the whole thing.

”Everybody does it in real life.

Not on MN though”

Sorry to burst your bubble, @fullponty, but I have never lied about my children’s ages to get something cheaper or for free, so your wild generalisation is wrong.

I have when taking my twins to soft play. A week after their first birthday I said they were under 1, neither were walking at that point and they weren’t exactly getting much out of it. They were also preemie and still look a lot younger than they are.

I didn't and wouldn't. It's not OK to lie for financial advantage, whether you're at a theme park, tax office or a divorce court

I do remember my parents doing it though, my brother used to play Ice Hockey (he's much older) and I think Under 4s were free. Until I was about 7 my dad used to carry me in a tell me to pretend to be asleep and then they wouldn't question it.

My parents are usually very straight laced and 'proper' it's funny that they chose that to be the thing they bent their morals over...

I think it’s ridiculous that the charge for a two year old is the same as an adult and I would definitely do this.

I did this once when DS had just turned two but only because I booked before his birthday so put him down as under 2, no one questioned it when we went in but I don't think I'd deliberately do it now he's 3 as I would think its more noticeable that he's not under 2!

I did when DD was asleep in the buggy at about 14? months maybe and the cutoff was 1 year.

When DS was five we got the bus back from school - under fives are free here. I asked for an adult and a child, the bus driver said "how old is he?" I said five and he winked and said "No, how old is he!" So I said ".....four?", and he just charged us for me. That kind of thing has happened a few times.

Also, the local zoo has had hundreds, possibly thousands of pounds out of us over the last ten years, so I am not going to worry about the fact I put off buying a card for DS2 until he was nearly three instead of as soon as he turned two.

I don’t lie. Unfortunately I also have to take my children’s passports quite often as they look far older than they are. Due to some people lying a nearby attraction has started doing height based entry which really really annoys me as I have very tall children who are still only little and have no interest in going on the bigger/expensive rides as they don’t suddenly become less scared because they are tall. My friend’s child who is 2.5 years older was free and mine was full price. Anyway, don’t lie.

I don't because I'm not a thief 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’ve never done it , and being short of money is not an excuse as there are plenty of free activities you can do .

No, its stealing and lying. People can call it and overeaction but I wouldnt be taking my kids out regularly with someone who did that, it is a really terrible example to set your children.
It would be pretty easy to get away steaing many cheap items from a supermarket, is that okay as well?

No, I’m honest.

I don't do it and never have. It isn't honest and I'm not a good liar anyway.

No but up till ds was about 7 we often got charged the under 5 price/ let in free automatically possibly because he was in a buggy (sn) and has a 'young' face.