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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Charged more for being a single parent - again!

93 replies

rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 11:34

Name changed for this as I've ranted about this elsewhere so probably outing! I also KNOW I am not being unreasonable- just posting here for traffic.

I've always been aware single parents lose out on holidays abroad and on family tickets for attractions but the other week I was searching for hotel accommodation and when I went back to look at place I was interested in for a second look I noticed the price was quite a bit cheaper. Then realised that I'd entered 2 adults (as that's always the default) and 2 kids instead of one adult and 2 kids. It was actually cheaper, not the same price as it works on holiday to have the extra adult even though it INCLUDED a cooked breakfast. I considered just booking for 2 adults then saying one couldn't attend on arrival but ended up finding and booking somewhere else

Well I've just booked camping and received a second more detailed invoice to the original booking reference. The campsite gives a price for 2 adults (actually it states 2 people) then charges extra for dc over 5. They've charged me for 2 dc despite me only using one of the 2 person allocation on the original tariff. It's not a lot but it's the principle and I'm going to challenge it. It's made me realise how often this must happen and I might not have even noticed. I wonder how often they've got away with this. Same with the hotel, had I not accidentally put the wrong adult number in I'd never have realised.

Anyone got any other examples of ridiculous cost discrimination for single parents? Or have I just been unlucky?

OP posts:

Blossomtoes · 03/07/2021 13:54

@ChrissyPlummer

Try being single….I once wanted to book a tour-type holiday but the price as I was single at the time was almost double the advertised cost!

That’s why I prefer Premier Inn type pricing; pay for the room, however many (up to their max) are in it. 1 person £90, 2 adults £90, 1 adult, 1 child £90.

Yes, pain isn’t it? But your Premier Inn example doesn’t help single travellers, it’s still more expensive. What really pisses me off is you pay a single room supplement then get a view of a wall, while the couples who are paying less get a sea view.

knittingaddict · 03/07/2021 13:59

@ReadySalt

A lot of attractions are more expensive for children than adults (things like zoos). I am a single parent with 3 DCs and find it cheaper to buy a family ticket for 2 adults and 2 DC rather than 1 adult and 3 DC.

I have never seen a theme park, attraction or zoo with more expensive entrance fees for children. Where was this?

I can only think of one soft play place near us that charges 50p per adult. It's very annoying because others charge nothing for adults accompanying children.

BungleandGeorge · 03/07/2021 14:03

Most hotels you have to pay the same room rate whether there’s one or two adults in it, are you saying they charge one adult, more than two adults?
Family tickets are incredibly annoying, as a single adult it’s a much higher proportion of your salary to pay for the unwaged kids! They should just charge a per person amount and do away with family tickets altogether, make child tickets cheaper for all permutations of families

Original poster

rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 14:04

I have never seen a theme park, attraction or zoo with more expensive entrance fees for children. Where was this?

We have a big outdoor park near us that changes less for adults to come in as the kids are getting the use. It's about £4 for adults and £7.50 for kids. The local zoo and farm park aren't priced like this though. The only thing there is the family ticket for 2a2dc is less per head than paying individually (but marginally more than 1 adult and 2dc so not worth getting) but I've learned to live with that. It's the paying for the adult that doesn't exist that's grating.

OP posts:

Original poster

rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 14:08

Most hotels you have to pay the same room rate whether there’s one or two adults in it, are you saying they charge one adult, more than two adults?

Yes in the hotel case they were charging more for 1 adult and 2 dc than they were for 2 adults and 2 dc (and it included breakfast)

In the camping case they are charging more for 1 adult and 2 dc than they would for 2 adults and 1dc - adding 2 dc supplements even though the base rate pre supplement is based on 2 people

OP posts:

TotorosCatBus · 03/07/2021 14:08

I'm a single mum if 3 and often booked stuff for 2 adults and 2 kids rather than 1 adult and 3 kids because it was cheaper and easier. I wasn't conning a business btw - some websites won't allow 1 adult and 3 kids to stay in 1 room but will allow 2 adults and 2 kids.

SempreSuiGeneris · 03/07/2021 14:08

Had this with Council swimming pool. Was a LOT of chin scratching before they agreed I could have a family ticket to cover me and 3 "DC". Only bothered to check the pricing because I wasn't sure whether my 16 year old was an adult or a child.

Lots of venues we go to actually start charging adult prices for age 12+ so potentially even more discriminatory if they don't allow the 12+ to count towards 2 adult family pricing.

Original poster

rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 14:12

@TotorosCatBus

That makes sense and works as it's a room for 4 and there are 4 of you. In this case I'm being charged for 4 when there are only 3 of us and the occupancy minimum is 2 so not using up space that could be sold on etc. The hotel wasn't the same for 3 as it was for 4 as you could understand and expect- it was cheaper for 4

OP posts:

Reallyreallyborednow · 03/07/2021 14:12

I travel with teenage dc for competitions.

Realised a while ago it’s often cheaper to book 2 adults than 1 adult one child. You’re also more likely to be allocated a proper twin room rather than a double bed + pull out.

Original poster

rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 14:13

Lots of venues we go to actually start charging adult prices for age 12+ so potentially even more discriminatory if they don't allow the 12+ to count towards 2 adult family pricing.

DD1 is 12 later this year so have this to look forward to also . Thanks for the heads up.

OP posts:

Mychitchatdays · 03/07/2021 14:16

Hotels and holidays are priced with two adults sharing and if that isn't what's in the room there is a surcharge added.

Original poster

rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 14:19

@Mychitchatdays

Hotels and holidays are priced with two adults sharing and if that isn't what's in the room there is a surcharge added.

I know that, my problem is with 2 surcharges being added when one should be included in the original price.

OP posts:

PerciphonePuma · 03/07/2021 14:19

There's always been a single supplement at hotels. Going back decades

Chewbecca · 03/07/2021 14:21

It's not illogical from a commercial perspective, it's the lack of cross sale opportunity they're trying to make up for.

Original poster

rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 14:22

There's always been a single supplement at hotels. Going back decades

But this doesn't apply when 3 people are using space intended for 2 it would apply when 3 people were using a space for 4 so 3 people would pay the same as 4. Or a single person in a room for 2 would pay the same as if there were 2. That's understandable This isn't what's happening in either of the scenarios I describe though.

OP posts:

Original poster

rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 14:23

It's not illogical from a commercial perspective, it's the lack of cross sale opportunity they're trying to make up for.

It's a campsite there aren't any cross sales opportunities

OP posts:

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 03/07/2021 14:23

I recently booked for something where it was cheaper to take DD with a friend than just DD (and two adults), so I did!

Toty · 03/07/2021 14:24

I would call the campsite and ask them to explain why they've charged you extra then I'd prob cancel out of principle if they refuse to remove the extra charge.

Original poster

rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 14:27

I will definitely be calling them. I get a crap signal in my house so need to wait til I go out. Was lucky to find anywhere with space though in these staycation times at such short notice (it's for next week) so might not be able to cancel out of principle on this occasion sadly

OP posts:

Blossomtoes · 03/07/2021 14:29

@PerciphonePuma

There's always been a single supplement at hotels. Going back decades

I know that! My point was that you pay more and frequently get a vastly inferior room.

< bangs head on table >

BadNomad · 03/07/2021 14:29

I googled it. It is an underoccupancy issue like other people have suggested. They want that extra adult because it means they can potentially make more money from food, drink and other extras spending.

Original poster

rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 14:33

It isn't an under occupancy supplement as the original price is based on 2 people so there are no spare spaces unused. There isn't a restaurant or bar on site, in fact, having been to their sister site the only things for sale were fishing nets and ice creams and duck food in reception and you could put 50p in the washing machine. All of which you're more likely to spend on with dc.

OP posts:

Marty13 · 03/07/2021 14:36

Didn't rtft but surely the solution is fairly obvious - book the cheaper option and just say the extra adult couldn't make it, etc. If they challenge it. Which most probably wouldn't.

QuitMoaning · 03/07/2021 14:37

I was booking something once and when I got to the place to enter the name of the second adult, I left it blank and got an error message saying “Error: You do not have a partner”.

Cheers, thanks for that.

Original poster

rantymcrantface66 · 03/07/2021 14:38

I was booking something once and when I got to the place to enter the name of the second adult, I left it blank and got an error message saying “Error: You do not have a partner”.

🤣

OP posts:

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