An open letter to Richard 'The Robber' Branson

Dear Richard Branson

As a man who is quick with legal writs to protect his reputation, you’ll be interested in my reason for charging you with robbery.

On Friday, I boarded a Virgin Train from Liverpool to London. I had booked my ticket well in advance and carried both a seat reservation and an online proof of purchase. Unfortunately, I could not find the actual ticket for the journey.

Despite having paid for it once already and showed email proof of purchase, I was charged full fare for the journey. You know full well that I could not possibly have reserved a seat without having bought the ticket. Any airline (except perhaps Virgin) would have let me fly on the papers I presented. But you have trained your staff to extort money with menaces.

This, Branson, is highway robbery. Making someone pay twice for the same product or service when proof of ownership is presented may not be illegal under UK jurisdiction but it is unethical by any code you might pretend to follow from the Holy Bible to Harvard Business School.

Robbing people is wrong, Branson. Didn’t they teach you that at school? From the reactions of other passengers, I gather you do it all the time on Virgin Trains. Your ticket inspectors take great satisfaction in extracting double payment.

How a man who robs innocent travellers is allowed to own a bank is a matter only this Conservative Government can explain.

You’re a robber, Branson. Admit it. Then go bury your head in lawyers.

Yours faithfully

Norman Lebrecht