The lack of call price declaration next to the 0844 number clearly breaches Ofcom regulations. In a long list of examples of where call prices must be declared, Ofcom specifically mentions both 'websites' and 'signage'. The missing call price can be reported to ASA.

The premium rate 0844 number is legal for sales lines, but a stupid idea when most estate agents use geographic-rate numbers. Calling an 0844 number from a landline currently costs up to 19p per minute. Calling an 0844 number from a mobile phone currently costs up to 52p per minute. From next week, it will cost up to 62p per minute. Most calls are charged at, or very near, the maximum.

In comparison, most calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers are made at no additional charge as part of an inclusive allowance. This applies both from landlines and from mobiles.

Sale and rental of immovable property is one of the exemptions from the BIS regulations on after-sales phone lines, but, again, just because it's legal, doesn't mean that they should be doing it. Most sectors have abandoned usage of premium rate 084 and 087 numbers.

It's easily fixed. The matching 0344 number has been available since 2007. There are numerous examples of competitors who have already made the switch. Bonus points if calling the old 084 number results in hearing an announcement telling callers to hang up and re-dial the new 034 number.

The usual answer given in an attempt to justify the use of an 084 number is that 'it's a fixed cost call, the same all over the country'. People who give this as an answer have failed to realise that for calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers there has been no price variation by distance since 2004. They have also failed to understand that 01, 02 and 03 numbers count towards inclusive allowances and 084 and 087 numbers do not.

Another reason given is 'calls to 084 numbers cost less than a national rate call to an 01, 02 or 03 number'. This was true for a while, but only for callers using particular landlline providers and without inclusive calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers. It has not been true since 1 July 2015. Since that date, calls to 084 and 087 numbers are never cheaper, and usually far more expensive, than calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers.

Some will tell you that calls to 084 numbers are 'local rate'. This was only ever true for 0845 numbers, but only from certain landlines and only until 2004. It has not been true since then, and it has never been true for 0843 and 0844 numbers. Users of 084 and 087 numbers are mostly living in the past, quoting things that are no longer true. These are premium rate numbers with an additional Service Charge paid to the benefit of the called party and their telecoms provider.