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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:
strixowl · 15/05/2018 17:00

Those who think this is OK, would you dodge a bus fare?

I used to say I was younger than I was to get a child ticket, for sure.

Lavalamped · 15/05/2018 17:01

I've done it a few times!

Fruitcorner123 · 15/05/2018 17:02

bimbobaggins is right. They should have a different fee for different ages instead of paying adult fee as soon as they turn 2/3/5. I will do it if I see the pricing as unfair and I am spending lots of money anyway. For example a farm near us charges from age 2, as well as the animals it has some play equipment and little rode in tractors which are suitable from age 3. When my children were 2 I did lie becuse I felt they were being cheeky charging the same for a 2 year old who can't use the equipment as a three year old who can. I would have happily paid a slightly smaller fee.

it's not stealing though and I do think they know people do it.

Realistica · 15/05/2018 17:02

So basically, those who can't afford the tickets so easily lie about their kids' ages, the company pushes prices up a little to compensate, and the cost is offset by those who CAN afford it and would never dream of lying (aka most of mumsnet).

Well, that seems like a fair economy tbh. Redistribution of wealth and all that.

Floralnomad · 15/05/2018 17:13

It amazes me that people lie on bus and train fares these companies prosecute people for these offences , is it really worth the risk of a criminal record .

ChocolateWombat · 15/05/2018 17:14

People who say companies know people do it - you are right, but that doesn't justify doing it. People who say the prices are too high and they couldn't afford to go otherwise, to justify lying - you're right prices are high, but that's true of all kinds if things in life and we aren't entitled to attend legoland or family farms or whatever.....if we can't afford the prices, we simply can't go, in the same way if we can't afford a Ferrari, we can't have one.

People seem to suggest that the firms FORCE them to lie, that lying isn't their responsibility or is okay. Basically,mpeople try to justify their actions, when pricing structures are pretty clear, no-one is forced to attend those places, and paying a different rate is stealing because it isn't paying the full price for service received.

If you do, just be honest with yourself and others - it might be fairly widespread but that doesn't make it right either. If you are stealing by lying about age, acknowledge you are doing it,mrathe right than blaming your behaviour on the businesses.

BlueJava · 15/05/2018 17:15

No, I don't lie about their ages.

Fruitcorner123 · 15/05/2018 17:19

ChocolateWombat it's not stealing. Stealing is taking another person's property. It is lying. If you are spending a lot of money at a place and you coudn't afford to go if you paid for your children who are 3 months over the minimun age I suspect the company would rather you just came and lied. If you dont feel comfortable lying don't do it. Being judgy about those who do doesn't make you a better person. It makes you judgmental.

LupinsNotBluebells · 15/05/2018 17:19

I'm amazed that no-one here has been caught out by their DC "no I'm not mummy, I'm x age aren't I" in a big voice.

I can't think of a time I've done it, mainly because mother's little helper would have cheerfully corrected me. For food I'd have been tempted otherwise as DS eats nothing.

TrinaN · 15/05/2018 17:20

@numbsnet I see it as different - the pass presumably allows for two adults plus two children. They have paid on the basis (so you would pay more for two adults on a family pass than for one adult and 2 children on a family pass), so they have already been paid for.

Age limits on meals are completely different. I sometimes have a child's fish and chips as an adult purely because I want a small portion. That is not having something for nothing but you pay for a small portion.

The problem is people scamming the system means less money to the company who then put up prices for everyone else and the honest people suffer.

Has anyone lied about DCs age before to get free admission for DC to then announce their true age to everyone? I can imagine it must have happened.

I can understand doing it by mistake (booking tickets for DC before birthday but going after), but to outright lie to get free admission is theft. Children don't have to go to soft play/the zoo/theme parks etc - we managed perfectly well when we were kids without them. If you can't afford them don't go or go when you can get a voucher.

Fruitcorner123 · 15/05/2018 17:23

I'm amazed that no-one here has been caught out by their DC "no I'm not mummy, I'm x age aren't I" in a big voice.

The exact opposite happened to my dad when he took my daughter somewhere she announced she was 4 when actually she was only 3.Grin

Fruitcorner123 · 15/05/2018 17:26

If you can't afford them don't go or go when you can get a voucher.

So easy to say when you can afford things. If you don't go the company will not make any money for you whereas if you go but lie about a child's age they will still get the adults and any older children fees plus the money you might spend in cafe/giftshop.

I would say the opposite if you really are struggling for money and your child is within a reasonable range of the age then lie and don't worry. If you really can afford it don't lie. Not going doesnt help anyone.

allthgoodusernamesaretaken · 15/05/2018 17:26

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

Agree with this

UserV · 15/05/2018 17:39

Mine are grown now, but I couldn't ever do it because they were tall, and always looked at least a year or two older than they actually were.

I would have if I could have though. As for the people saying 'it's dishonest,' 'it's theft,' 'what a terrible example to set to your kids' blah blah blah .... Whatever! Must be great to be SOOOOOOOOO perfect! 🙄

@umbongo

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

Well exactly. But we are in the parallel universe of mumsnet where some claim to do stuff that no-one does in real life, EVER.

@biscuitraider

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

This... ^

Realistica · 15/05/2018 17:54

Kids don't "catch parents out" because you are rarely required to announce their ages. You just say "three adults and 1 child, please"

PeonyTruffle · 15/05/2018 17:58

Yeah I do. I have a freakishly small 3yr old who doesn’t meet the height requirements for so many of the rides in theme parks so I begrudge paying full rate when he can’t really go on anything

higgyyellow · 15/05/2018 18:00

I haven't done it with mine, and I had a super proud moment a few years ago when eldest DD turned 16 and promptly announced she now paid full fare on the bus - when I was that age I dodged around between adult and single until I was about 18 Blush

So, my example served her well and she has grown into an honest adult

ShatnersBassoon · 15/05/2018 18:03

"One should be sure one's moral position is capable of being universally acceptable to other rational human beings." An 18c philosopher said that, and I think it still stands as a good test of a person's moral choices.

Petty theft isn't acceptable to rational people, is it? I just don't believe that most people, given the chance, would steal Confused

Gatehouse77 · 15/05/2018 18:06

I haven't lied but I also wouldn't necessarily correct anyone who made an assumption!

myfriendbob · 15/05/2018 18:07

"One should be sure one's moral position is capable of being universally acceptable to other rational human beings." An 18c philosopher said that, and I think it still stands as a good test of a person's moral choices.

And it was as stupid then as it is now. One moral position can never be universally acceptable to all other rational beings.

metalmum15 · 15/05/2018 18:08

Hmmm this sounds very much like an adventure farm near me, where anyone over 2 pays the same, rather extortionate, price. The problem is that a 2 or 3 year old won't really be able to do anything much compared to older children and will probably spend a lot of the day sitting in a pushchair, so really not getting the value of an £11 entrance fee. I've fibbed a couple of times in the past at very expensive attractions, what I saved on the entrance fee, I've probably spent on food, drinks etc once inside.

specialsubject · 15/05/2018 18:09

ok to rip off bigger business, it seems.

dont whine when fares and costs rise. the rest of us also pay for you skanky low lifes. all so ickle preshus can have a cheap day out rather than you actually having to work to entertain it.

no wonder so many kids are messy thieving little shits. learned it at home.

TammySwansonTwo · 15/05/2018 18:16

no wonder so many kids are messy thieving little shits. learned it at home.

So true. I’m sure my twins will one day be telling a prison counsellor about the time their mother paid the 52 week old price at soft play when they were 53 weeks old. Slap on the cuffs.

Racheyg · 15/05/2018 18:21

My kids would put me and say mummy I'm ........
but a week past to I wouldn't have bothered

BaldricksTrousers · 15/05/2018 18:27

I can't lie about it. My daughter would ruin the illusion immediately. And I would have a hard time explaining why lying is bad but it's ok on this occasion.

I remember my mum used to do this when I was a kid and I always got embarrassed and indignant...OTT I can see now as she was just trying to save a few quid but I hated it.

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