STREET IN CITY SLUM AREA LITTERED WITH OLD SOFA CHAIRS AND OTHER GARBAGE.

CU CONSUMER ORGANIZER FLORANCE RICE GIVES REASONS WHY BLACK AND LATINO CONSUMERS DO NOT SHOP IN DOWNTOWN STORES WHERE THE PRICES ARE CHEAPER,

VARIOUS SHOTS MANIKINS OF WHITE MODELS IN UP SCALE STORES. ZOOM IN FACE OF WHITE MALE MANIKIN.

WHITE MANAGER OF WEBB FURNITURE, SAYS , "IN ORDER TO MAKE CERTAIN SALES, THE CUSTOMER HAS US OVER A BARREL, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE CONCESSIONS" "TO SHAVE THE PRICE A BIT".

STANDING ON STEPS OF CORONA UNIVERSITY. AUTHOR OF BOOK "THE POOR PAY MORE" DAVID KAPLOVICH (?) SAYS, "IN MANY RESPECTS THE POOR ARE A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE". :THEY (THE POOR) TEND TO LIMIT THEIR ACTIVITIES TO THEIR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD".

KAPLOVICH - "UNFORTUNATELY, THE MERCHANTS ARE EAGER TO PROVIDE THEM (POOR) WITH MERCHANDIZE AT EXORBITANT PRICES", AND THE MERCHANT IS USUALLY VERY SHABBY.".

SALESMAN TELLS CUSTOMER THAT HE (SALESMAN) WILL GIVE A FREE KITCHEN SET WITH THE PURCHASE OF OTHER FURNITURE.. KAPLOVICH, "WHAT THE SALESMAN DOESN'T TELL CUSTOMER IS THAT THE MARK-UP OF THE FURNITURE IS QUITE EXORBITANT, AND THE KITCHEN SET IS NOT WORTH MORE THAN $25. .

MS S HIDDEN CAMERA SHOWS SALESMAN TRYING TO IDENTIFY HIMSELF WITH THE CUSTOMER, SHOW CUSTOMER HE IS HIS FRIEND. OFFERS CUSTOMER CREDIT AT AN EXORBITANT 10%. FINANCE CHARGE (IT'S ACTUALLY DOUBLE THAT, AS EXPLAINED BY KAPLOVICH VOICE OVER)

CU SALESMAN'S HANDS HOLDING SIGNED CONTRACT, WHICH IS THEN SOLD OR ASSIGNED TO A CREDIT CO. SPECIALIZING IN COLLECTION WORK..

MR. CARPENTER DEFINES 'SEWER SERVICE". IF THE PERSON IS NOT HOME,THE SERVER FILES AN AFFIDAVIT THAT HE INDEED SERVED THE SUMMONS, WHEN HE NEVER SERVED THE PAPERS AT ALL..

VARIOUS LARGE SIGNS IN OFFICE WINDOW," LEO P. MARX,"CITY MARSHAL.

GOOD SHOTS OLD, YOUNG PEOPLE AND KIDS IN STROLLERS IN LOWER EAST SIDE SHOPPING AT OUTSIDE STORE COUNTERS.CLOTHING HANGING ON OUTSIDE RACKS UNDER FIRE ESCAPES.

NORAL, ABOUT THE MERCHANT, "TAKE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN TAKE, AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN TAKE IT"! "ONCE THEY SIGN THE CONTRACT, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE INVOLVED AT ALL"..

CU NEWSPAPER AD :WAREHOUSE SALE! 3ROOMS NEW FURNITURE, $112. WINNAKER ADMITS FURNITURE COULD BE BETTER. CU TUCKED AWAY UP STAIR S IS SHOT OF THE $112 FURNITURE.. WINNAKER SAYS THE AVERAGE MARK-UP FOR THIS FURNITURE IS 80 TO 100%.

VOICE OVER NORAL, "THE NEXT QUESTION IS "WHAT KEEPS THE FINANCE COMPANY GOING. VARIOUS SHOTS BIG, BANKS ON WALL STREET , "THE RESPECTABLE BANKS ON WALL STREET FINANCES TO LOAN COMPANIES"

DIRECTOR OF THE BAY AREA DEVELOPMENT AGENCY IN SAN FRANCISCO, , ART DANFORTH, GIVES LIST OF 5 THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION. "I WILL NOT SAY THE SITUATION IS HOPELESS, I'D SAY IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT....".

SPANISH SPEAKING MALE TEACHER AT BLACKBOARD IN SPANISH-AMERICAN ACADEMY IN NY, GIVES INSTRUCTION TO CLASSROOM FULL OF STUDENTS, ON HOW TO AVOID DECEPTION BY MERCHANTS.

VOICE OVER, " ANOTHER SELF-HELP TECHNIQUE IS ORGANIZING A FOOD BUYING COOPERATIVE".

AT THE CO-OPERATIVE GROCERY STORE, VOLUNTEER PACKS CARTON FOR HOUSEWIFE WHO PLACED HER ORDER THE DAY BEFORE. IN OPERATION JUST 6 MONTHS, THE CO-OPERATIVE IS A HUGE SUCCESS.

INSTRUCTOR FROM THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF MARKETS, INSTRUCTS NAACP TEST SHOPPERS, EACH TO BUY ONE ITEM IN THE STORE, THEN HAND IT TO INSPECTOR OUTSIDE STORE,, WHO WILL SEE IF SHOPPER WAS OVER CHARGED.

PAN FISH LYING ON BED OF ICE IN MARKET'S VIN. INSPECTOR CITES MERCHANT FOR MISREPRESENTING SPECIES OF FISH AS COD, WHICH IT WASN'T.

LEGAL AIDE LAWYER SPEAKS OVER PHONE TO OPPOSITION LAWYER AS BLACK MOM, WHOSE HUSBAND'S SALARY HAD BEEN GARNISHEED FOR REFUSING TO MAKE PAYMENT ON A NEW FREEZER AFTER CLAIMING IT WAS REPAINTED, LOOKS ON.

CU ATTORNEY RAY NORELL WALKING GHETTO STREET TOWARDS CAMERA, SAYS THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE GHETTO FEEL "THEIR CAUSE IS HOPELESS".,

KIDS WITH SCHOOL BOOKS WALK AMIDST GARBAGE ANS DISCARDED FURNITURE ON CITY SIDEWALK.

VOLUNTEERS FILL BAGS OF FOOF FOR POOR IN NEIGHBORHOOD COOPERATIVE.

GOOD SHOT GHETTO GIRL DANCING TO MUSIC ON FIRE ESCAPE OF GHETTO APARTMENT HOUSE..