To have said this to my friend?

[estimation1]

I met up with my friend, and was talking to her about how DS wants to go to a football match and how expensive it is, she told me she knows as her partner takes her son to them often, she then told me that as her DS is quite small for his age, they still buy him a child's ticket (he's 16 so would need an adults) and no one questions anything.

I told her that I was surprised that they've never been questioned. She then told me that her partner tells her son to say he's 14 if anyone asks. I told her I was shocked at the encouraging him to lie and that I didn't think it was right buying the wrong tickets as it is stealing. Friend then left

Was I BU?

Always makes me laugh when a child gets on the bus and the driver asks how old they are and the parent says 4 to which the child shouts out no I'm not I'm 6.
YABU it's not stealing she is still paying for a ticket. Hundreds of people probably do it, if the club had a problem they would charge the same rate for adults and children after all they both take up a seat.

Op you are unreasonable, pious, holier than thou, sanctimonious and a busy body.

Technically of course they should get the correct ticket but I think there are two mitigating factors: If it's a premiership club then they really can manage without your friend's extra fiver, and if they regularly buy the massively overpriced kit in the three sets clubs now have, then I think they're fine.

Wow you sound like fun. Not surprised she walked off.

Oh perlease/ who hasn’t asked their 3yr old not to speak so they can pass for 2 at a theme park….stop being so judgy

It's the old rule isn't it ? Why did you feel the need to say it?

Option a : You thought it might suddenly make her change her ways and give up her life of crime...possibly becoming the centre of a bestselling TV Film
Or (which is more likely)
Option B : You took the shot to make yourself feel superior and more holier than thou.

I also have no skin here as I don't actually do this. Not worth it for me I would feel anxious on edge and guilty. I wouldn't however be shocked and appalled (I added the extra I admit but your tone implies it) at a friend for doing it and be judgy in order to boost my own self esteem.

I work for a championship club and trust me they can afford to lose a few pounds! They pay minimum wage to most of the staff and pay the management and players serious ££££ I'd do the same in her shoes unfortunately my 16year old is 6'4 and there's no way I'd get away with it although the premiership team my son supports does an under 17 and under 12 ticket

Ffs

@Ukholidaysaregreat

OP you were sanctimonious. PP Laura aged 8 that is a really funny story. Sorry Basil Brush took the piss, but he did take the piss out of a lot of things. Hope you got some free entries for your trouble. Hope your DC appreciate the fact that you are prepared to pay for them to go into attractions.

Aye, it's stuck with me for a long time, that one.

YABU that rule is in place to be broken! Am sure the child in question will be lying about his age soon to buy booze anyway!

It's a small league 1 club, not premier league.

Seems unfair to charge a full adult for a 16 year old who is unlikely to have a job

Not unreasonable at all assuming you don't want to keep this person as a friend. Why would you bother saying that to her? People are so weird.

@youaresunshine

When I was 14 my mum once made me do a drawing so that I could get a blue Peter badge and get into the odd attraction for free. I really didn't want to do it (you can't say "no" to my mum!) So I signed the feckin' thing, "by Laura, aged 8." Tbf it was a shit drawing, an 8 yo would have done better. It was actually shown on TV by Basil Brush who then proceeded to make fun of it and my spelling. So there you have it. I now pay full price for my dc when required.

@youaresunshine there was me thinking nobody could be worse than my parents for pulling that shit but I was wrong! My Dad did once ask if I could get a child's ticket (presumably under 18) to a National Trust property after I got married I obviously immediately stepped in, but how embarrassing. Also, I once corrected him on a bus apparently when he claimed I was 4, but was actually 7. I got called Saffy (from Absolutely Fabulous) after that ...

YABU. You complained about the price then made your friend feel shitty about the steps they have to take to be able to afford it...

I do this all the time for other events.These are nov businesses making tonnes of money out of very expensive tickets. I don't see the harm but wouldn't do it for a small business or when it's obvious.

I find it strange your friend cant handle your opinion on this
As friends surely you can have a difference of opinion without one leaving.

If you are discussing something the other person doesn't have to specifically ask for your opinion for you to comment on it, who does that !!!

If i talk about something with my friends, its just a given they can comment on it, i don't have to specifically ask them to.

YABU. We have all done this.

You should've kept your opinions to yourself..

@Geamhradh

No you weren't. But this is MN where everyone thinks lying about kids' ages to get freebies and reductions is fine.

I never understand this type of comment suggesting MNers display a kind of hive mind when there are always comments of opposing views on all threads.

I live in France and used to live in Spain. For any kind of child (or teenager or OAP) discount, you show the child's ID card. So unless one were to get a fake ID card or use someone else's, this kind of scam just wouldn't be possible. Sorry if that's irrelevant.

I think OP YWBU to have judged your friend. As her son is 16 and presumably a full time student, to me it's a bit different to a full grown adult who earns a wage.

Yabu

@Happy36

I live in France and used to live in Spain. For any kind of child (or teenager or OAP) discount, you show the child's ID card. So unless one were to get a fake ID card or use someone else's, this kind of scam just wouldn't be possible. Sorry if that's irrelevant.

I think OP YWBU to have judged your friend. As her son is 16 and presumably a full time student, to me it's a bit different to a full grown adult who earns a wage.

Well. Not quite. I'm Spanish and when in Spain, I have lied about my son's age many times to get reduced price tickets. ID cards are only compulsory after age 14

YADNBU to question your friend's judgement about this. They're stealing and also encouraging their son to lie. They can hardly now complain if the son steals from or lies to them.

OP, yes, YWU and very judgey