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For many in the UK's immigrant community, international phone cards are a lifeline, allowing them to speak to their loved ones overseas. They're used by an estimated five million people in the UK, who each spend an average of £13 a month on calls.

However, research has revealed that many would-be callers are being short-changed and ripped off...

A recent probe by industry watchdog Ofcom found that one in ten of international phone cards simply didn't work at all.

And new research from the Post Office has uncovered a range of other rip-off practices: Many providers levy unfair charges, deducting daily maintenance credit charges or charging connection fees. On top of this, they may then actually under-deliver on the card's stated value.

The Post Office (a provider of these phone cards itself) has put together some tips to help consumers separate the wheat from the chaff before they make a purchase:

1. Is there a daily maintenance charge?
A daily maintenance charge will mean your card becomes worse value over time. If you need to make several calls over a long period, be aware of this and find a card with no maintenance charge attached.

2. What's the call rate?
Before you pick up the phone, check a card provider's website to establish the rate for the destination you want to call. Just bear in mind that unscrupulous providers may choose to alter the rate of calls at any moment, so you might end up using more credit than you think.

3. Check the expiry date
Phone card expiry dates vary dramatically - typically between 15 and 90 days from when you first use the card - so make sure you don't get caught out.

4. Is there a connection/disconnection fee?
Some card providers will charge a fixed fee just for connecting (and/or disconnecting) your call. This means you may not be getting value for money, even if the per-minute rate is low. Ideally, find a card that charges no connecting fee at all.

5. Rounding up?
You may be paying for more minutes than you're actually using, as some card providers will round up to the nearest three minutes and charge you that amount. More reputable companies tend to round up to the nearest minute - so stick with these.