I am still on original Ink Cartridges, if I cancel and pause Instant Ink, will I still be able to pr

[leeum51]

I am an instant ink subscriber, low use and now I am finding that it is far too expensive... I can get printing done for $0.20AUD /page including paper.  I am still on my original ink cartridges which came with the purchase of the printer, will I still be able to print if I cancel and or, pause subscription?  Also, I read everything, cut & paste terms and conditions and I don't recall (nor can I find on my files, which I would have saved if something specific) anywhere that HP announced that I would not be able to print or would have to purchase new cartridges if I cancelled my subscription, this would be against the law.

[Garp_senchau]

@leeum51, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

If you pause or cancel your Instant Ink subscription, your printer will still work with regular ink cartridges. You can keep using the original cartridges until they run out. After that, you'll need to buy regular cartridges. There's no mention in the terms about having to buy new cartridges if you cancel, so you shouldn't face any legal issues. 

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards,

[leeum51]

Thanks ‘Garp’ you mention "regular" cartridges.  If my printer is offline (still on Instant Ink subscription) it will not print.  HP also expects me to have the printer switched on all the time, when perhaps I only use it for scanning one/two times per week.  I refuse to do this, my electricity, however small cost that may be.  I have a diary reminder to make sure that the printer is turned on around my billing time, so that HP can check for usage.  It seems to manage that OK even though the bill may show printing on different days (& then is not always accurate, I keep Excel record of my printed usage, but waste too much of my time trying to communicate with you people to get it corrected; it’s not worth my time following up).  I know when the printer usage is being checked.

Then too, you now charge me $3.49/MTh plus international fees [$0.12; I was told that this latter charge would NOT happen and if it did, such charge would be refunded; yet it never has been].  So, $3.61/month AUD for 10 pages (it used to be $1.99/MTh + $0.07 Int’l fee) its $0.361/page plus the actual paper whereas I can get it done down the road when I am out shopping for $0.20/page INCLUDING paper.  That’s not even competitive with the market.  Who is the fool?  Well clearly me! Especially when I saw yesterday, (screen-dumped that one) that you are offering "Instant Ink subscription starting at $1.79 month". So how does that one work ‘Garp’?  HP charge me a premium for the lowest plan. Double standards?  Nor do I recall where the unused pages cut out at 30 to carry forward/rollover; I recall checking that one out thoroughly, yet nothing mentioned that rollover would max out at 30 pages/MTh.  If the max out did not happen, then that perhaps would be good value. HP needs to be more open (CLEAR) from the outset with their T&C’s include or not. 

Also HP needs to develop their Apps which are not so slow, cumbersome and time consuming; it takes an age for HP Smart to get up and running and log in.  Then each time one logs in, one must redo the cookie settings as HP App cannot recall the settings or, wants to change them. 

Then the scanner which I use mostly and regularly, must be rebooted every few pages, it can’t sit and wait for 10 minutes without getting ‘confused’ & locking up. I’m always having to use Task Manager to quit the App [it’s the only App that I must do this for on a very regular basis; almost guaranteed every use, if its more than a few pages to scan.  Imagine this if it’s a 30 page or larger document and it gets ‘confused’; one must start the entire scanning process all over again... SO FRUSTRATING.  My goodness, what an overall waste of my life and HP does not give a fig & charges a premium for that fig!

Also, I had to download WhatsApp in order to be able to communicate with you (don’t want my phone to be full of crappy & scammer-vulnerable Apps and have to try to use my arthritic fingers typing stuff to you on a tiny phone keyboard, which your staff then do not read fully or properly).  I tried that yesterday, again, 'Anju' the person on the other end just did not listen or read what I said.  I asked that ‘Anju’ have someone from HP, who was knowledgeable and intelligent to call me on Monday 9th June 2025 1330 to 1430 Qld Std Time.  Let’s see if that happens, but that 'engagement' with ‘Anju’ yesterday, including wait time & no outcome, took an hour of my life!  Same here now.  Does HP want to reimburse me for the cost of MY time over the past years, 28 MThs of using Instant Ink & trying to get your Apps working properly and time-efficiently. That would not even be considered. 

Am I happy?  Not at all; it’s not a personal thing ‘Garp’ but really, HP needs to do better. 

Like I’ve said,  I don’t recall seeing anything when I signed up for Instant Ink that you would lock up my printer, or not rollover ALL unused pages & I read & save most such terms and conditions.

I guess, once unsubscribed, I will need to reinstall my printer afresh... more time & data wasted.

Please, unless you can fix these issues, particularly the cost & the app, then please unsubscribe me from the end of this period; that day will be, close of business Qld Std Time on 15th June 2025. After which I will return your cartridge & those which I consider are mine and, at my expense, print this document with my details, date etc to accompany such cartridge.  

Please do better... unlock my printer, fix your crazy-slow unreliable printer App AND fix the charge/pricing to be competitive, as it is ridiculous and pronto or I am gone from using or recommending HP.  Thank you.

Now you have changed what I copied and pasted from MS Word into this window box, so nothing HP does is open or honest is it?

[Garp_senchau]

Hello @leeum51,

First off, I just want to say I’m truly sorry for the frustration and time you’ve spent dealing with all of these issues—I'm hearing you loud and clear, and I can absolutely understand how everything you've mentioned would leave you feeling disappointed and exhausted 😔.

I really appreciate you taking the time to share such detailed feedback. It’s clear that you're not just frustrated with a few isolated problems, but with the overall experience of using HP’s Instant Ink, app, and support system. I know it's incredibly irritating to feel like your time isn’t being valued, and I’m genuinely sorry for the inconvenience this has caused you 😓.

Pricing & Billing – I totally get how frustrating it is to see higher charges than expected, especially with international fees that weren’t mentioned upfront. I’ll pass this feedback along so we can improve the pricing clarity.

HP Smart App – I hear you on the app issues. It shouldn’t be slow or reset your settings every time. I’ll make sure the team looks into this and works on making it smoother.

Scanner & Printer Issues – You should not be dealing with constant freezing and having to restart the scan process. That’s a huge waste of your time, and I’m really sorry about it.

Customer Support – I’m sorry ‘Anju’ didn’t address your needs properly. You deserve better, and I’ll make sure your feedback gets to the right people to improve support.

Instant ink subscription

I get why you’re thinking of unsubscribing, and if you do, I’ll make sure the cancellation process is easy. If you change your mind, though, I’m here to help fix these issues. Just share a few details via private message, and I'll be happy to assist you with pausing or canceling your Instant Ink subscription: 

To locate your account, please provide

Your registered email address

Your Instant Ink account ID

Serial number of your printer enrolled in instant ink

Confirm your address,

✨I really wish I could snap my fingers and fix everything immediately for you, but what I can do is make sure that your feedback is heard and escalated. We need to improve, and hearing from customers like you is absolutely essential for that. 

If you'd like to escalate this issue, please send me the following details via private message, and our team will reach out to you directly.

First Name: 

Last Name: 

Serial Number: 

Product ID: 

Contact number: 

Full Address: 

Country: 

Pincode: 

Email: 

Best Time to reach:  

Take care and have a good day. 

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!

Regards,

[leeum51]

Hi Garp, I've cancelled my Instant Ink...  You ask me to contact you via private message... how do I do that please?  You offer these things but dont cite on which or what medium.

How private is this message Garp, where I am writing now?  I'm certainly not giving you personal information over this medium, its a form.  If I call the WhatsApp number, how do I get a private message to you.

 On 7/6/25 I spent one hour and 40 mins in WhatsApp chat with HP and achieved nothing.  A promised phone call to me on Mon 9th during an allotted time frame, never happened.  More evidence of HP's lousy service & lack of client respect.

I called on 10th June,  this call stated at 11:01 and at 15:30, having waited 80 minutes since the last communication from "Ana"... I gave up.  How much of my life do you want for free?  Send your cartridges back... I don't think I'll waste my time, I'll just chuck them in the bin. HP clearly does not respect me at all, why should I bow to your calling.

I'm also bothered on my laptop by a recurring HP USB update, I gave full details of it yday in the chat.  It does nothing but annoy my computer system,  waste data  continually trying to update and again, my time; it's been there for months.  Must have been initiated by your Apps.  I tried to cover that yday too, ineffective/incomplete info given by HP's WhatsApp chat rep on that. 

So between that and the scanner getting confused... the instant ink issues/cost... why would I ever look at doing anything with HP ever again?  Would I ever recommend a HP product to anyone?  Would you? 

However... when I get a spare minute... I will replace YOUR cartridges with the originals that came with the printer and hope that it works as it should.  If it does not, as other have cited, I will be livid.  I will also do some scanning and if this is a problem in anyway... I will be on the phone pronto... to get the Printer app working properly but not to the WhatsApp #, that is a waste of time.  It would be good if you could call me direct... you have the info.  I also gave the printer serial number in the chat yday.  My address is on the Instant Ink account.  Hope to get some conclusive productivity going.  Thanks Garp.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @leeum51,

Thank you for the response.

Since the previous agent is not available at the moment, I'll be assisting you further.

I'm really sorry for the inconvenience caused.

To access your private messages, simply click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile name. 

You can use this link as well: 

Private Messages - HP Support Community

We're looking forward to helping you get back up and running! 

Best regards,