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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:
pointythings · 15/05/2018 16:30

No, I don't. Margins in a lot of places are pretty tight. This is the last year that DD2 will count as a child in many zoos (she's 15) so I'm enjoying it while I can.

There are advantages though - I can now take her to see Deadpool 2 in the cinema, we had to wait for the DVD with the first one. The age classification system in the UK annoys me - I far prefer the US system where the have the R rating, which allows parental discretion.

Jaxhog · 15/05/2018 16:31

I wouldn't Because you know who pays for the 'over age' free kids? You and I do.

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 15/05/2018 16:32

Everybody does it in real life

Honestly, they don't. It's easy to claim 'people only don't do it on MN' but that's not true. In my experience, most people tell the truth. I've never been on a day out with another family and seen them lie about entry to save a few quid. For most people, lying is simply wrong and a crap example to set to children.

All of the 'we HAVE to or we can't afford it' doesn't make sense to me. It's not life or death that your DC go to a theme park for the day. One friend is a single working parent and hardly ever has money for treats. She would never lie about something like that. She'd go to the cheaper farm place down the road instead.

Most children are obsessed with their ages; how can you lie in front of them, about them and then try to teach them not to lie?

Integrity and honesty are really important, I realise that more and more as I get older.

Ticketsfrom · 15/05/2018 16:34

If it's the difference of a month or two I think that's fine. But more importantly your friend should be thanking you for sorting tix not caterwauling about legally buying a ticket for her kid.

specialsubject · 15/05/2018 16:34

sod these people trying to make a living, eh?

shame on everyone who does it. And don't blubber if you get cheated or ripped off as you clearly think it appropriate.

myfriendbob · 15/05/2018 16:38

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

Lots of people saying it though....

I think most people do it. I know when I worked at an attraction that charged by age it was fully expected that people did it, and no-one cared.

howabout · 15/05/2018 16:39

I don't as I had a pathologically honest and very talkative precious firstborn.

Otoh I tend to avoid the sort of children's attractions that cost £11 per head regardless of whether you only visit once or go every day for a year.

starlightmeteorite · 15/05/2018 16:41

Double standards. I wonder if those who lie would be prepared to accept being over charged by a venue, because they thought they could get away with it? I expect not.

Chopchopbusybusy · 15/05/2018 16:41

I never did it because DD1 has always looked older than her age and it just never came up with DD2. I do know lots of people who have done it and I can’t get too upset about it.
We did have breakfast once at a premier inn with DD2 when she was 19 and they gave her a free 15 and under breakfast. I pointed out when I paid the bill that she was an adult. The waitress just said oh well she didn’t eat much and gave me it for free.

Fatted · 15/05/2018 16:43

Both my DS have always been big for their age so there's no chance I could sneak them in for younger than they are! We have annual passes for places that we have to start paying for at 3YO. By 2.5 we were getting asked how old DC were

Bagadverts · 15/05/2018 16:43

I don't have children, but also wouldn't do it. It is obtaining services dishonestly. That may be a charged as a crime. You make a false representation of the facts.(irl the police have other things to do but this is on principle.)

This is probably one reason that places charge for 2 year olds. Say your theme park is suitable for 5 and up and you charge accordingly from 5 up, 0-4 free. wouldn't you lower the age you charge if lots of parents of 5 or 6 year old olds were saying they were 4 to get free entry? (Pretty obvious if an awful lot, rather than a few precious children seemed to enjoy the exhibits that were really for 6 year olds.)

Numbsnet · 15/05/2018 16:46

Yes, I do, but I wouldn't in small family run places.
My children are tiny for their ages so have never been questioned. One of the few times they're height or lack thereof has been an advantage.

My DH has gone with his (male) friend and both sets of children to a zoo on the friend's family pass. They held hands walking in!

misskatamari · 15/05/2018 16:46

I don't, but my two year old is flipping ginormous so people often don't believe it when I'm truthful about his age, never mind lying

gabsdot · 15/05/2018 16:47

When entrance is "under 3 free" I always too that to mean 3 and under is free so free till the day before 4th birthday.
I also lied about DS age once. He was 12 and I was told I'd have to buy an adult ticket for him so I said whoops, he's actually 11.

RexManning · 15/05/2018 16:49

I don't, but I couldn't if I wanted to. DD is on the 98th centile for height and I have enough problems proving that she isn't older than she really is - I have scans of her birth certificate and passport saved on my phone. This question pops up perennially on here and shows me why no-one is ever willing to take us at our word, because clearly everyone else is lying through their teeth.

CuppaSarah · 15/05/2018 16:50

I do it to avoid train fares and the odd entry place. I only do it in big national chain places though. I'd never do it at a small independant business.

ShatnersBassoon · 15/05/2018 16:51

At the other end of the scale, my mum tried to pass me off as a pensioner in a garden centre so I could join the seniors' club and get a free cream tea Hmm. I publicly bollocked her for that Smile

She also, of course, made us look like complete idiots when we were kids, lying about our age.

I've never done it. If I can't afford something, I can't do it. The horrible feeling of having lied to get something for free takes the shine off days out etc.

Metoodear · 15/05/2018 16:51

No it works out no difference their are 4 of us would have to pay for myself any way dd is 3 but looks younger
We do bog off so two of us get in free and two have to pay

It’s pretty much thief

PuppetOnAString · 15/05/2018 16:52

Yes I do it.

Mousefunky · 15/05/2018 16:53

Yes I have and do still on the train for my youngest DD who is five.

justforthisthread101 · 15/05/2018 16:54

I don't do it, and never have done it.

It doesn't matter if it's a small business or a big business. They still have to pay their staff, and you still have to pay for the service!

I hope those not paying on public transport never complain about the quality of the service or when prices go up.

Bobbybobbins · 15/05/2018 16:54

We went to a theme park on Saturday where you pay once your child is over a certain height. Our 2 year old is very very tall and was over the threshold. Before I measured him I had asked the cashier whether he was free or not as he was 2 - she said oooh yes. But by that stage I had measured him and knew I had to cough up Grin

BunloafAndCrumpets · 15/05/2018 16:56

Nope, feel like I'm stealing.

georgeisadinosaur · 15/05/2018 16:57

I generally do if its not much over! So in your case I wouldn't have bought tickets for the two year olds, especially yours given her birthday was only a week ago.

She's overreacting though by being "furious". I'd just be suprised as I obviously don't have many friends as honest as you!

Justgimmeit · 15/05/2018 16:58

Dd would grass me immediately. I bought her (reduced fair) bus pass as soon as she turned 5 because she would have shouted from the rooftop if I had said she was 4 so allowed free travel Grin

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