The number of consumers getting into trouble with unsecured debts is rising strongly, with debt agreement administrators reporting that average debt loads are also rising.The federal government bankruptcy agency, the Insolvency Trustee Service of Australia, reported yesterday that the number of part nine debt agreements entered into during the three months to the end of September rose 7.9 per cent compared to the June quarter, to 2202 nationally.The number of consumers with debt loads above the $80,000 limit for part nine agreements is rising as well, forcing them into part ten personal insolvency agreements.Off a low base, part ten agreements are up 138 per cent compared to last year's September quarter figures and 8.74 per cent compared to the June quarter. Bankruptcies were also up almost six per cent compared to last year, but down five per cent on the June quarter. Bankruptcies in NSW rose ten per cent with total insolvency activity in NSW up 15 per cent for the quarter. There was also a big rise in bankruptcies in Western Australia.Melbourne's outer suburbs, particularly the outer eastern suburbs, continue to feel the brunt of Australia's unsecured consumer debt crisis.Victorian debt agreement numbers rose from 559 for the June quarter to 660 in September. There were 71 part ten agreements entered into in Victoria during the quarter, up from 15 during the same period last year."The consumer debt problem is spreading inwards from Cranboure, Narre Warren and the far outer east to the middle income, middle suburbs," said Melbourne-based debt agreement administrator John Beecroft."And the debts are getting bigger. I think we are in for a horror Christmas and New Year period for insolvency activity."Adding to the problem, quite frankly, is the toughening up of the attitude of creditors. They are using the 'all monies' rules pretty ruthlessly and being pretty quick to take action."Dun & Bradstreet reported in a survey this week that demand for new credit is highest in the 18 to 34 age group, with 24 per cent expecting to make a new credit application in the December quarter.Thirty-two per cent of low income households, 27 per cent of those aged 50 plus and 26 per cent of blue collar households anticipate higher debt levels by Christmas.Twenty-one per cent of Australians expect to lower their debt levels by the end of the year, with those earning more than $70,000 (32 per cent), in full-time work (28 per cent) or white collar households (27 per cent) most likely to lower their debt.