He had a good job that paid him $7,500 a month but the way he used his credit cards, you would think he earned a lot more.

The debts snowballed and before Mr Toh knew it, he owed $103,000 to the banks.

His story is typical of many who have been caught up in a credit card debt situation which has spiralled out of control.

In 2011, the total number of delinquent debtors was just over 73,000.

These are people who pay nothing or less than the minimum sum on their credit card debts.

According to the Credit Bureau Singapore, it has hit more than 101,493 this year.

It is the same story with revolving debtors who roll their credit card debts by covering at least the minimum sum.

More people are also turning to debt counsellors for help.

According to Credit Counselling Singapore (CCS), the biggest credit card debt this year is a whopping $1,552,000.

Mr Toh, too, had no choice but to pick up the phone when he realised he had lost all control.

As with everything, it started small.

The 39-year-old, who now works as a sales officer and part-time taxi driver, was a regional sales manager in 2005 and frequently travelled.

He carried several credit cards to cover his travelling expenses, which his employers reimbursed the following month.

Despite the reimbursement, he'd pay only the monthly minimum sum of $2,500 for his five credit cards for about three years.

He says: "I was earning quite a decent sum then, so I thought I could give my family a better life and pay back the following month."

But he lost track of how much he was spending and how much he could claim, he adds.

Besides paying his parents' medical bills of about $1,000 a month, he would also take his family of seven to restaurants and shopping malls twice a week. A night out typically cost $300.

QUIT JOB

It all went downhill after Mr Toh quit his job in 2012.

He then earned only about $3,500 as a part-time sales officer and taxi driver but the debts followed him.

He says: "At that time, I only thought of my family. I didn't have the motivation to pay more than the minimum sum for my debts."

He did not have enough left over to cover the $2,500 minimum payment each month.

Mr Toh took a bank loan of $10,000 to pay off his credit card debts, only to find out that it was not enough and that loan accumulated interest, too.

His credit card debt snowballed to $103,000 and his financial struggles contributed to his divorce in 2012.

Last year, he finally sought help from CCS.

He now follows the Debt Management Programme which will help him clear all his debt in the next three years.

He says he is thankful for the help from CCS. His sisters are also helping by paying for their parents' medical bills.

Mr Toh says: "Without the support from CCS and my family, I don't think I could ever finish paying my debt."

People who need help shouldn't wait, says Ms Tan Huey Min of CCS.

"People with a debt issue have to deal with it as soon as possible before it snowballs into a greater sum every month," she adds.