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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:
BobbieDraper · 16/07/2020 12:23

@FantasyPanda

No, I just dont steal things.

Maybe your moral compass equates the tooth fairy with stealing, but mine does not.

I dont steal. But I will join in with magic and fantastic for my children to enjoy santa and the tooth fairy. Perhaps you see those as the same, but I dont.

This is theft. If you want to do it then that's your choice, but dont pretend you're not stealing because you are.

Stannisbaratheonsboxofmatches · 16/07/2020 12:23

Oh I see I’m not the first to have said this!

Might be because I was born in the pm, and my brother who was born in the early hours (not the same day!) always said to me “it’s not your birthday yeeeeet”...

MrsJBaptiste · 16/07/2020 12:23

Definitely don't pay for him, especially when he's only just past the "free" age!

I remember my parents sticking my sister under a blanket in the car when she was 5 to avoid us paying for her (it was free for under 3's) Grin

Youbigdosser · 16/07/2020 12:24

Not a chance I’d pay he’d be aged two until he was 10

excuseforfights · 16/07/2020 12:24

But I will join in with magic and fantastic for my children to enjoy santa and the tooth fairy.

You’re not joining in, you’re instilling. A lie is a lie is a lie.

PatricksRum · 16/07/2020 12:24

@WaitForCake

If we are talking about businesses needing money, isn't it better they get one full paying adult over not having a booking? It's on a standard working day and there's loads of tickets available so in that sense, having some income is better than none.

(Yes, I know I'm clutching at straws here).

Is it better that a supermarket have £50 of goods stolen if the thief is with their sister who purchases £100 worth of goods? Nonsense. Do as you wish but this reasoning is batshit
LoseLooseLucy · 16/07/2020 12:25

I say go for it. £30 is a ridiculous leap.

dementedpixie · 16/07/2020 12:25

£30 for a 3 year old!!! What on earth do you get for that extortionate price?

Iamthewombat · 16/07/2020 12:25

Definitely don't pay for him, especially when he's only just past the "free" age! I remember my parents sticking my sister under a blanket in the car when she was 5 to avoid us paying for her (it was free for under 3's) grin

You learned your lesson well, didn’t you? Watched your parents stealing, and now you are sure that everybody else should ‘definitely’ do the same.

Frazzled2207 · 16/07/2020 12:26

Well in theory YABU but I def did this myself when my son had just turned 3. It’s a bit of a joke charging an adult ticket when in fact clearly a 3 year old is also going to be bringing along his own full adult ticket buying adult rather than coming by himself.
I prefer the “parent and child ticket” approach that many places take

BlusteryShowers · 16/07/2020 12:27

It's morally wrong, but then so are the attraction in charging that. Was it Pleasure Beach that had a tier system, so if you were only going to go on the baby rides you had a cheaper wristband than if you wanted access to all the big rollercoasters? That seems fair to me.

SunbathingDragon · 16/07/2020 12:27

[quote excuseforfights]@SunbathingDragon that sucks you should have complained.

Judging by the number ‘Buy an Adult ticket, get a Child ticket free’ offers, attractions are glad to get the price of a full paying adult from people.[/quote]
I know but in all honestly, the queues at the time just meant it would have resulted in a huge wait and a really upset two year old (plus I had my very excited three year old with me) so I thought I’d email when I got home instead and just got a very standard copy and paste job saying it was tough. Was annoying and stopped me and DH renewing our annual passes with them.

DownToTheSeaAgain · 16/07/2020 12:27

It's stealing. If you are happy with that then go ahead.

eatsleepread · 16/07/2020 12:29

I would totally do it. YANBU.

SpinningLikeATop · 16/07/2020 12:29

@excuseforfights

But I will join in with magic and fantastic for my children to enjoy santa and the tooth fairy.

You’re not joining in, you’re instilling. A lie is a lie is a lie.

This thread is about lying to get a financial advantage, though. Lying to children about the tooth fairy etc isn't remotely the same.
baubled · 16/07/2020 12:29

Do it, don't think twice- enjoy your day.

Original poster
WaitForCake · 16/07/2020 12:30

@dementedpixie

£30 for a 3 year old!!! What on earth do you get for that extortionate price?
That's exactly my problem. I'd still begrudge paying half price but I would pay it. Paying a full adult price when neither I or my DS will not be using most of the attractions there seems ridiculous.
OP posts:
BoingBoingyBoing · 16/07/2020 12:30

The argument that it's lost revenue if you don't go may make sense in normal times.

However, given that most attractions are having to severely limit how many people can come through the gates, actually sneaking a kid in probably is lost revenue, as another adult could have otherwise had that spot.

Not that it's any excuse. We're hardly talking life or death here; a visit to a tourist attraction is hardly essential. The honest thing to do is pay the correct amount. If that is too much, then find somewhere else to go.

Original poster
WaitForCake · 16/07/2020 12:31

However, given that most attractions are having to severely limit how many people can come through the gates, actually sneaking a kid in probably is lost revenue, as another adult could have otherwise had that spot.

But isn't that exactly the same if I actively choose to take him a day before his birthday to avoid paying the full cost?

OP posts:
Ori38 · 16/07/2020 12:34

@TheKrakening3

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.

Agree. This is a sensible approach. And you may just find they are kind enough to let him in for free.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 16/07/2020 12:35

I just think its wrong; all these places have been closed for months. Many will be really struggling. To steal from them isnt right.

Charging adult rates for a small child isn't right.

There should be a children's rate from 3 to (say) 12, and then an adult rate applies over 12.

It's shocking to charge full rate for child who is little more than a baby.

EmbarrassedUser · 16/07/2020 12:36

Adult price at 3!!!! I bloody hate it when places do this. It’s like when all inclusive places make you pay adult prices for over 10/12 (or whatever) yet they can’t have booze or go in the ‘adult’ pool. Double standards 🤬🤬

BobbieDraper · 16/07/2020 12:37

@WaitForCake

I would have a but more respect for people like you if you actually came out and said "I know it is theft of a service but I'm going to do it anyway". All this trying to justify it just makes you look worse.

If you think the service is priced too high for what you get, then dont use the service. Using it as an excuse to steal isnt good. Just admit what you're doing and do it: own it. Dont try and wiggle out of it.

Also, your son saw the advert and wont have understood that he cant do most of the things he saw in the advert. He will want to, you will say no, he wont enjoy it. You really should take him somewhere age appropriate where you wont have to keep saying no.

CatWithKittens · 16/07/2020 12:37

I'm afraid those who are comforting themselves by relying on the time of OP's DS's birth do not have the law on their side. The Family Law Reform Act 1969, Section 9 states:

9 Time at which a person attains a particular age
(1) The time at which a person attains a particular age expressed in years shall be the commencement of the relevant anniversary of the date of his birth.

I still think the practical answer is to speak to a manager and, to deal with the staff change point, if they agree get their name and ask them to inform staff on the day of the arrangement.

Original poster
WaitForCake · 16/07/2020 12:38

[quote Ori38]@TheKrakening3

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.

Agree. This is a sensible approach. And you may just find they are kind enough to let him in for free.[/quote]
Whilst I could give it a go - the on door ticket price is £48. I can barely afford one ticket at that price. If they say no, I would have to spend £100 on tickets for an adult and a toddler. That is definitely not something I'm going to risk.

OP posts: