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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:
Teateaandmoretea · 15/05/2018 16:03

I love this topic when it comes up.

No one is being unreasonable imo, it is fairly easy to see both sides of it tbh.

The last time DH did this on the way into somewhere that was free for under 5s with our very very babyish looking 5 year old...... She took off her jumper and was wearing an 'I am 5' T-shirt that she got for her birthday a couple of weeks earlier.

InfiniteSheldon · 15/05/2018 16:03

everyone does it said by almost all liars and cheats to excuse their behaviour

soupforbrains · 15/05/2018 16:03

@BevBrook I wonder if we had the same bus driver Grin

HerFemaleness · 15/05/2018 16:07

No I never have but on a number of occasions the person selling tickets was so shocked that I was telling the truth that they waived the fee anyway.

I'm another one to have a bus driver insist my 5 year old was 4. Maybe it's company policy Grin

soupforbrains · 15/05/2018 16:07

As a variation on this theme, what about children's menus with age limits?

Personally I think an age limit is daft, it's a smaller portion at a cheaper price and should just be available for anyone who is happy with a smaller portion.

That said I am taking DS and some friends to a restaurant in a few weeks for DS's 11th birthday party. The kids menu is for 'children aged 10 and under' DS and two of his friends will actually still be 10 but the other two are 11 already. I intend to have them all order off the Kids menu. Is that equally as mendacious?

cjferg · 15/05/2018 16:07

I used to try and get on the bus for a half when I was 19 (usually only if I didn't have enough for the full fare)

pigmcpigface · 15/05/2018 16:07

I don't have kids, so it's not an issue for me. But I wouldn't blame any parent faced with the expense of a child for stretching the truth a little. It's not like you can pass them off as under 2 for long, is it?

I think your friend is being really unreasonable getting angry about this. You made an honest mistake - quite literally - if she cared so much about this, she should have raised it earlier and clarified with you.

TheLesserOfTwoWeevils · 15/05/2018 16:08

I've done it once, sort of by accident! The first time my friends bought advanced tickets for both our families. The event was free for children aged 2 and under and was two weeks after my son turned 3. My friends booked the tickets before my son's 3rd birthday and automatically booked for 2 year old. We didn't realise until we got there and I did feel quite cheeky. It's not something I would normally lie about.

We also went to a place that started charging at age 3 the day after my son's 3rd birthday. The lady at the desk asked how old he was. I said he'd just turned 3 the day before. She said "oh, well, 2 years old you said didn't you?!" with a wink and put him through on a free ticket Smile

OwlinaTree · 15/05/2018 16:09

I've got annual passes to places and I haven't paid for my child when they've got to the paying age, just flashed the pass and not been questioned. When I've renewed the pass I've added them or bought them one.

Springnowplease · 15/05/2018 16:09

It's theft and I'm not a thief.

Happyandshiney · 15/05/2018 16:10

Soup I’m a bit surprised that a ten and under menu will be enough food for 11yos.

My ten years olds haven’t eaten from children’s menus for quite a while now,

But no, I wouldn’t lie.

LunaTrap · 15/05/2018 16:10

I did recently for a major London attraction. I resented the price going from free to £20 as soon as my DC turned 3. She was 3 yrs 3 months so I said she wasn't 3 yet. And I'm glad because it was shit.

Quirkyturkey · 15/05/2018 16:12

I didn't. I'd like to say it's because I never tell a lie, but it's at least partly because I was too scared of being challenged and embarrassed in public. Blush

Floralnomad · 15/05/2018 16:13

I don’t think it’s at all the same as buying a meal off a kids menu , I think the ages on there are just a guide to the expected portion size .

Strokethefurrywall · 15/05/2018 16:14

Without hesitation I would do it, and have done it. Meh.

Teateaandmoretea · 15/05/2018 16:16

It's theft and I'm not a thief.

No it isn't theft because you haven't taken anyone's property. Theft would be walking out of the attraction with a load of cutlery.

RedSkyAtNight · 15/05/2018 16:16

I wouldn't. If I think the place is too expensive, then I don't go.

soupforbrains · 15/05/2018 16:16

Happy this particular restaurant the portions are very reasonable and as they'll be getting 3 courses PLUS birthday cake I'm not concerned about any of them going hungry. Grin My DS is a bottomless pit and even he has somehow survived on the portions at this restaurant so far.

I do agree that in some places the portions wouldn't keep him going for 5 minutes though.

mummabearfoyrbabybears · 15/05/2018 16:17

Our local buses charge adult prices for 12 and over. She's not an adult so I pay a child fare. I've lied about their ages at some point for cheaper or free entry. Everyone does it except on mn Grin

BankHolidayYAS · 15/05/2018 16:20

oh fuck yeah

DD1 has looked younger than most for a long time, and back in the tiny days it was because she was so prem.

I ain't ashamed either.

Wouldnt do it now, the kids would grass me up somehow Grin

CaptainCallisto · 15/05/2018 16:23

No I don't. So many people do it though that I'm frequently challenged because my children are tall.

Neither child has a passport and we very nearly ended up not going into a local attraction recently because the person on the desk refused to believe 4 year old DS2 was under six. There was no way I could afford an extra £12 for a child who should be free! I asked to see the manager, who asked if I had any proof, and accepted the pictures of DS2 as a newborn on my fb because you could see the date. It was ridiculous! The manager was very apologetic and said that they've had to get very strict on it because they lose so much money every year from people lying to sneak free entry...

Elliepurplestar · 15/05/2018 16:25

Nope I wouldn’t do that

UnimaginativeUsername · 15/05/2018 16:27

No. But they’re 17 and 8 so there’s no borderline free entry available anyway.

BarbarianMum · 15/05/2018 16:28

I did once when we took ds to a zoo on his second birthday. Honest thereafter.

BelieveAnything · 15/05/2018 16:28

I never have. However I have asked if the kids could still have the cheaper rate if we have been paying in person. I’d just be honest and say something like ‘His birthday was only two months ago is there any chance I can still only pay the toddler rate for him’ 9 times out of 10 we were successful. This was particularly true when we went skiing.

I think it’s not ok to lie about things like that. Where do you draw the line?