HP won't help unless I pay $20 fee to remove THEIR LOCK

[EM1281]

HP refuses to remove the lock they put on my printer unless I pay them $20.00 or sign up again for the InstantInk program. I will NEVER use their service again. My cancellation was finalized on 12/8/22 but my printer would not print until I cleared the HP message to connect to InstantInk. I had to clear this message EVERY time I tried to print something. I reset and did everything I was instructed to do by HP web sites but nothing would clear it. I finally chatted with a tech support person this morning and they said they could help but I would have to pay $20 since I was no longer an InstantInk customer.....OR I could sign up again for InstantInk. What kind of SCAM IS THIS? YOU put a lock on my printer and now want to charge me to remove it? Your lock has nothing to do with the warranty on my printer. It's YOUR LOCK! REMOVE IT! Check your own site and you'll see that the instantink account was cancelled 12/8 and yet I still get emails saying you're not connected...you need to be connected as a requirement of your service. Service that was cancelled 12/8/22! Come on! [edit]

[Dragon-Fur]

@EM1281 

If by "lock", you are referring to the Instant Ink cartridges having locked after the subscription is cancelled --

this is normal behavior.

The process and your responsibilities are explained in the cancel document:

 HP Instant Ink - Cancel Your HP Instant Ink Service

I will forward your comments to our moderator group.

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[sandytechy20]

@EM1281

Welcome to the HP support community.

I have brought your issue to the attention of an appropriate team within HP. They will likely request information from you in order to look up your case details or product serial number. Please look for a private message from an identified HP contact. Additionally, keep in mind not to publicly post personal information (serial numbers and case details).

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[EM1281]

The following is part of an email I received from HP acknowledging that my account was cancelled, the cancellation date and some instructions about returning the cartridges.  I did everything they requested me to do but they left my printer in a "locked" state that gives me a message every time I now to print.  They refuse to fix it unless I pay to have this removed.