BOSTON -- Pam, who doesn't want her last name used, sat down for credit counseling Thursday morning because she said she was at the end of her financial road. She is a nurses aid who said good paying jobs in her field have all but disappeared. To make ends meet, she started using credit cards to pay for everything, including her mortgage.

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"I just racked up the debt. I couldn't believe it. I'm living on credit," said Pam.

At American Consumer Credit Counseling in Newton, more than 100 agents are on the phone until midnight every day, counseling thousands of people in financial crisis across the country. President Steven Trumble said these days, his firm is getting 200 more calls a day from people drowning in credit card debt, which used to average $15,000.

"Keep in mind that we're seeing credit card debt anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000," said Trumble.

Trumble said the sea of red ink the country is facing was inevitable given the free-wheeling ways of credit card, mortgage companies and banks, and the government's failure to control them.

"We had people borrowing money for homes, credit cards, buying houses, and we haven't checked their credit scores, or if they're employed for a decade. So there's really no evidence to see if you can pay that debt back," said Trumble.

Pam, who said she tried to do things the right way, now faces fear and pain.

"I'm at my wit's end. I never thought this would happen," said the single mom, as she wiped away tears.