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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To lie about his age for free admission?

592 replies

WaitForCake · 16/07/2020 10:29

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

OP posts:
Kolo · 16/07/2020 20:06

@Iamthewombat

Erm, loads of things on that list are fraud.

I didn’t ask which items on the list were fraud. I asked which, if they were perpetrated, would lead to a direct financial loss by a third party and how. Because that’s what we’re talking about here: the OP causing a financial loss to a third party, the operator of the theme park.

I'd love to know how the company knew that OP couldn't take her child the day before the birthday in order to build it into their financial planning.

Paying some money to enter might just cause financial gain for the company. Depends on a lot of things, not just pricing strategy. Any economists should be familiar with profit maximising being where mc=mr. Could be that OPs fraudulent action takes the company to that point, instead of her not going at all and the company receiving nada.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 16/07/2020 20:06

in fact there are probably staff who would hear that it’s the three year old’s birthday that very day and might wave the charge anyway...

The problem with that, though, is that I imagine a great many children's main reason for going there in the first place is to celebrate their birthday. It could be a bit like asking a specialist wedding photographer to work free of charge as a favour for you, on account of the fact that it's your wedding day!

PablosHoney · 16/07/2020 20:28

@AlternativePerspective definitely 😀

Cagedbirdsinging · 16/07/2020 20:39

I note that the main attraction for your not-quite-three-year-old DS is the aquarium . Everyone knows that small eyeballs wear out glass less than adult size eyeballs and theme park pricing is outrageous .
Take him .
Take your tiny child .
Have a clear conscience and , more importantly , have a brilliant day !
P.s. Happy birthday DS !

BiggerBoat1 · 16/07/2020 21:00

The sea-life bit of Chessington is shit by the way.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 16/07/2020 21:23

If it something like Legoland or Chessington they often have two for one tickets anyway, eg on cereal boxes, and then you child can prove he’s 3 for mini driving at Legoland which is for 3-5 year olds.

CatWithKittens · 17/07/2020 11:17

@LadyEloise

Drum it into him that he's not 3 til the late afternoon / evening- when he gets back home. Smile It is a ridiculous policy that a 3 year old pays adult price.
Sadly, as I have pointed out upthread, his age changes in law at the beginning of the anniversary of his birth, not the time of it.
LadyEloise · 17/07/2020 11:54

*CatwithKittens

  • I was afraid he would burst out with the great news of his birthday to the ticket person just as Mum was about to pay.
Temp123999 · 17/07/2020 12:36

@Sceptre86 OP said she was a single parent on low income.
I think there should be a reduced price for those on benefits even if it's just for the children but pretty sure all those up their high horses would be frothing though.
My husband pays the higher tax rate and I work for the NHS so we have different views about money but he wouldn't begrudge free tickets for those in need

Isis1981uk · 17/07/2020 12:58

I was small for my age so my mum used to say I was 'under' whatever the age was for years! I think I passed as 4 when I was 8 once when I didn't get out of the car (safari park!)! I've done similar with my kids once or twice. Is it it morally wrong, of course it is! But are we all perfect human beings who don't take advantage of loop holes to save money sometimes? Of course not.

myfavouritefudgecake · 17/07/2020 13:12

Some of these response are hilarious. People in real life just aren't that bothered about this stuff. I would do it.

The only caveat I have is that do you run the risk of him not being able to access some of the rides/attractions/activities with a baby ticket? In which case you might want to suck it up and pay for him to have access to everything. However, I would certainly not be tying myself in ethical knots about it.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 17/07/2020 14:13

Every parent I know in rl would do this!

Damn right!

bloodybored · 17/07/2020 14:37

Onio

FelicisNox · 17/07/2020 17:42

YANBU.

I did this all.the time and still do when we use hotels.

The prices are inflated to incorporate this type of thing anyway.

Go for it.

Wolfiestar · 17/07/2020 17:45

What time of day was he born? Will he be actually "3" when you enter the park? Obviously works best if he was born late in the afternoon/evening when you'd have already left the park anyway

SpangleSparkle · 17/07/2020 17:58

What time was he born? If you get in before this time technically he is still 2 😊

allybird1 · 17/07/2020 18:00

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busymomtoone · 17/07/2020 18:09

Honestly cannot believe some of the holier than thou responses on here. Your child is , just , by one day, 3 years old. Very far from an adult! The business will get your payment, which they would not get if you don’t go. Your child will have what sounds like a much deserved treat. I wouldn’t do much as take a pen from an office - but denying your child this experience because of a prohibitive cost for the sake of one day would be crazy! Go, enjoy and send more business their way in future

Jadee753 · 17/07/2020 18:11

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1Blue1 · 17/07/2020 18:15

whispers
He thinks he’s 3 already as this is his birthday treat and he met granny the other day and they gave him presents and did a cake but it’s not actually until next Tuesday! Bless him! 😳🤣👍🏻

Jeeperscreepers69 · 17/07/2020 18:31

Why ask mumsnet? Just do it. I was 4 till i turned 6. Free bus rides😳😳

MadMadaMim · 17/07/2020 18:49

I just really don't see the difference to the company if we went a day before compared with the actual day.

The difference to the company is £30 vs £0. It's that simple

You've filled a thread with excuses, explanations, reasons. The bottom line is - it's fraud. It's stealing. It's dishonest.

It's up to you what you do.

The WhatAboutery along with everything else is what's most dishonest though. Do you often use such flimsy reasoning to justify what you do? Just own it. You know it's wrong and therfore you know it's not justifiable. It's patronising.

PS FWIW - I'd do it but I wouldn't try to justify/explain it - to others or myself.

dreamboatquickfuck · 17/07/2020 18:49

Can't believe how many people are getting their knickers in a twist about this, of course it's fine! Wouldn't even give it a second thought. 3 is not a reasonable age to charge adults prices anyway.

roxanne119 · 17/07/2020 18:49

Don’t think I would Maybe would have been tempted in the past . But due to parks and things being shut for so long they need our business. I’m sure if you shop savvy you would be able to get a voucher for buy one get one free or half price but feel in the current climate this is the way to go . Save on food inside take a picnic 😊

FortniteBoysMum · 17/07/2020 18:52

We have all done it. My dp buys our 13 year old an under 11 ticket for the rugby because they never check and the next ticket is an adult. Legally his still a child so he refuses to pay adult prices. I was still getting child fare on the bus at 18. Thankfully I look younger than I am. Wasn't the case of asking for it mind I just asked for a ticket they assumed I was under 16.