Australia's love affair with easy credit has turned on itself. In early 2008, the price of credit reached its highest point in 14 years, following 12 successive interest rate rises since 2001. With the domestic economy overheating, and home buyers feeling the economic pain associated with higher interest rates and inflation, consumer debt has become the source of mainstream community debate. John Symonds, founder of Aussie Home Loans, has declared that 'we're maxed out as a society'.