Cannot print because Instant Ink Membership Lapsed, Despite Having Full Ink Cartridge (That I Own)

[JViera_87]

Can someone explain to me how it is that HP can lock my printer and prevent printing, despite me having a full ink cartridge that came with my printer? My membership to Instant Ink lapsed because I have a new debit card and had forgotten to update on the site (I honestly forgot about it) and today, at 8pm I am trying to print something only to be shown an error message/printout stating that because I hadn't paid the monthly fee, I cannot print. Again, I have a FULL ink cartridge that came with my printer.

[Content Removed]

[Bob_Headrick]

See sections 5.d and 9.c of the terms of service here. The cartridges supplied with the printer are "Instant Ink Ready", when you sign up for Instant Ink they are converted to Instant Ink Subscription cartridges as described in section 5.d.i (bolding mine):

5.d.v HP may communicate with You by e-mail, by text message, messages on Your printer and computer (“Service Account”). The status of the HP cartridges included as part of a printer purchase does not change unless and until You activate Your Service Account. When you have created Your Service Account, the Service will automatically recognize and activate your HP cartridge as a “Subscription Cartridge”. If the printer You purchased came with Subscription Cartridges, carefully review the included written materials. Activated Subscription Cartridges may only be used in conjunction with the Service. HP will thereafter send You additional Subscription Cartridges to allow for Your continued printing through the Service. If no regular HP cartridges or Subscription Cartridges were included with the Service-compatible printer that You purchased, then HP will send Subscription Cartridges to You after You have created Your Service Account.

When you sign up for the Instant Ink program you are NOT purchasing ink, you are purchasing a subscription to a set number of pages per month.  The ink is supplied, but remains the property of HP and must be returned if you cancel the program in accordance with the terms of service.  

5.d.v When Your Service is cancelled for any reason, HP will remotely disable the Subscription Cartridges and You will no longer be able to print with the Subscription Cartridges. In such a case, you will need to purchase a regular HP cartridge compatible with your printer, in order to continue printing.

9.e  Consequences of Cancellation.You agree that HP will not be liable to You for any cancellation of Your Service or refusal of access to the Service or Site. Upon cancellation of Your Service for any reason, any rights granted to You under this Agreement will terminate and You must immediately cease all use of the Service and return the Subscription Cartridges to HP as detailed in Section 5.e. ‘Subscription Cartridges Must be Returned by You to HP‘. Furthermore, any Promotion Incentives that You earned pursuant to the Refer-a-Friend Promotion will immediately expire upon termination of Your Service.

[JViera_87]

Excellent business model. Sell people printers and boast (in the ad) about the first/free ink cartridges that come with the printer (as a means to boost sales), only for them to not TECHNICALLY be free. 

What a scam. They made it seem as if Instant Ink was a service that tracks your ink levels and uses the monthly payments to send out new ones once you needed them ONLY. Not pay right out of the gate to use ink that you already own.

Now I have to decide on principle if I'll be canceling this Instant Ink membership, selling this average printer, and seeing if I can find a more honest company/brand. Either that or keep paying every month to use the ink I already have for who knows how long, as I don't use the printer very often (the ink is still full), who knows when I'll need more?

Thanks for clearing this up for me though Bob, I appreciate it. 

[Betty0610]

@JViera_87

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We shall escalate this case.

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