To lie about his age for free admission?

[WaitForCake]

It's DS's 3rd birthday in a couple of weeks. I'm taking him to an attraction.

It's free for under 3s, but adult price at 3 upwards. Money is tight, but after a tough few months between lockdown and his DF moving out after our split, I want to do something nice for him.
As there is no inherent difference in what he'll get from the experience the day before his birthday and on the day of his birthday, WIBU to just buy him a 2 year old ticket?

I can't take him the day earlier due to work (I did consider this already).

YANBU - get the 2 year old ticket
YABU - pay the adult price for him

Yanbu
I'd do it!

I remember queuing for an attraction and the little boy in front of us us pipes up to the ticket collector I'm 4 but mummy said to tell you I'm 3!

Everyone pretended they hadn't heard so LB kept on getting more loud and insistent Mummy - is this the man I have to tell I'm 3? Mummy! Shall I tell him I'm 3 now (but I'm really 4, aren't I?) etc. The mum was

Why not just go the day before his birthday?

PumpkinP I don't think the question should be can I get away with it? it should be is it the right thing to do?

When you're wheeling your double buggy round the supermarket would you stick a few items under the blanket if you could get away with it? If not, why would you feel its ok to steal money from an attraction? There really is no difference.

You are clutching at straws.

As I said, do it if you want but dont pretend it's not stealing. You are stealing. It is your choice, lots of people do it... but dont try to pretend you're better than someone shoplifting.

When I cant attend something, I dont do it. But apparently on mumsnet, when people cant afford something, they steal it. Its not a physical item so I guess they think it doesn't count.

Take him a week early, he'll still enjoy it.
Then do something else on his birthday.

A little bit off topic, but I used to work at a cinema, and we had children tickets (2-14) student tickets (15-18 or 18+ with a student card) and adult tickets. The amount of times I would have the following conversation was ridiculous:

Customer: One adult and one child to (latest 15 rated film) please?

Me: I’m sorry, I can’t sell a child ticket to that film, child tickets are only for 14 and under. It would need to be a student ticket.

Customer: He is 14, so one adult and one child please.

Me: In that case I won’t be able to sell the ticket, as the film is rated 15.

Customer: Oh. Ok, one adult and one student then please.

Me: Does he have ID? As you’ve just told me he’s only 14 I cannot sell him a ticket to a 15 rated film without ID.

Customer: No, but I was only saying that to get the cheaper ticket!!

This would happen multiple times a week!

@TeenPlusTwenties

Take him a week early, he'll still enjoy it. Then do something else on his birthday.

I did consider this, but I can't get leave from work beforehand. I'd already booked him birthday off in advance.

I would have taken him on the weekend before too, but his DF has him. So it's really his birthday or not at all.

Meh, mine were 2 until they were about 5

MN is very moral on this issue, in reality we all do it.

Hope he has a great time.

I couldn’t bring myself to do this . Especially not now when businesses are suffering. Just pay what you owe them ie the full charge. Otherwise go early .

So what, the prices for some of these places is daylight robbery anyway, I didn’t usually use the pram as a double as he had grown out of it but if I was going to the zoo then yes I would attach the extra seat, I don’t feel guilty. Wish I still had it

Take him a week early, he'll still enjoy it.
Then do something else on his birthday.

What actual difference does it make to the company, they will end up with the same amount of money in their pockets. I can't believe people are this rigid fucking hell

Go OP

Can't you go the day before? Say it is for his birthday tomorrow... same amount of excitement - AND he gets to tell everybody it is his birthday tomorrow, no lies, no dodgy moral compass issues, no doing a business out of its rightful dosh.

I think YABU. Presumably it’s an attraction aimed at children or families, hence why children are charged the same as adults.
I know it’s tempting, but it is also theft.

Give him a chewy toffee as you approach the pay booth!

Its a matter of principle. You will be lying. You're excuse is that it's only 24h. What if you'd gone there the day before his birthday and they'd charged you full price and when you complained they said that it was ok because he was turning 3 in 24h?

Your child will benefit much more long term from being brought up by a mum being honest and sticking up to good morals than having spent a birthday at a park he probably will hardly remember. Do the right thing.

What time was he born? If he was born after the time you go in he technically will still be 2 ;)

@AryaStarkWolf

Almost all attractions are limiting numbers due to covid19 and social distancing. If they allow him in for free when he should have paid, then they potentially have to deny access to another paying customer later on. So they wont end up with the same amount of money. If she takes him when he is still allowed a free ticket, then the business wont have to lose out on a paid ticket when denying someone entry as OP is still entitled to the free ticket.

Look, if you all think its ok then do it. But stop pretending it isnt theft. It is.

And appalled to read the majority is happy to lie to get what they want. Makes you wonder what else people lie about without any qualms to pay less for something...

Tell him it is his birthday the next day and celebrate over the two days.

Most children I know would do something like this:
Parent: Oh, he's two
Child: I'm THREE Mummy! It was my birthday LAST WEEK!

No one in their right mind would begrudge this. It is perfectly fine.

No, it is not perfectly fine. It is dishonest.

As for “better for the park to get some money than none” (as in, you won’t go if you have to pay for your son so if you lie about his age at least they will get your admission money), isn’t that their decision, not yours? If the park thought it was appropriate to run extra offers on ‘normal working days’ (part of your argument, ie the park might be quiet anyway so it matters less that you’d be lying since at least the park will get some revenue on a quiet day), they would do so.

This is why businesses fail, of course. Selfish people doing anything to save themselves a few bob. If you can’t afford to take your son to the park and pay the admission price, go somewhere else.

YANBU do it! Just say he's almost 3. I've done it and would do it again. Adult prices for a 3 year old! Disgusting!

You lie about the little things and it becomes easier to lie about the big things.

Go to the counter and tell them it’s his birthday and he has turned 3 today. There is a good chance they will let him through for free. If not, just suck it up.

Nearly everybody does this and I personally don't judge them. Many of these places are not affordable to many families and as for stealing, well it could be said that the prices they charge for refreshments and tat in the gift shop (which you have to walk through to leave) are daylight robbery! If a family of four goes and pays for three of them that's more money than if they didn't go at all because it was too expensive

And, for the record, I think it's dishonest.
Take him the day before his birthday.