Barred from using my own printer

[Rob6862]

I have just discovered I cannot use the printer I OWN or the cartridges I also OWN. because I no longer have a current subscription with the company. Here is the message I am confronted with.

"Your HP Instant Ink subscription ended on 26/12/2024. Enroll this printer again to resume your subscription and get ink delivered automatically. Your Instant Ink cartridges stopped working without an active subscription."

The reason for cancelling my subscription was that I simply never used the printer enough and was effectively paying a monthly standing charge, which amounted to £24.00 a year for something I was not using.

I paid this for three years before canceling. In that time, I received 1 new cartridge, thereby, £72.00 for an ink cartridge. !!!

.They are effectively holding me hostage to their rules even when I no longer have anything to do with them.

Has anyone else been confronted with this ridiculous situation?  Surely, this cannot be allowed.

[darrel112]

Actually you don't own the cartridges, HP does. Once canceled the cartridges no longer work. Since you don't use your printer very often just buy your cartridges at the store or online. The Instant Ink Cartridges will no longer work if your subscription is canceled even if there is plenty of ink in them.

[Rob6862]

Many thanks for the info, Darrel. It explains the situation. I'm surprised, though. As you'll probably be aware, when purchasing a package from them, they state you can "Cancel or Pause anytime". There is no mention of that catch.

Not knowing this has cost me dearly.  I have paid them approximately £140.00 over 4 years. They allowed that to continue, whilst knowing I was using well below the cheapest package deal. I should have cancelled sooner, but I thought I could at least use the one cartridge they did send. 

I'll be talking to them tomorrow, and I'll suggest they make it clear to others in my situation.

Best.