Photosmart 5520 Black ink not working

[LesleyJean]

Just set up my new printer and through a process of trial and error, realise that the black ink is not coming through.  I put in a new cartridge in case the Setup one was the problem but still no black print.  Getting desparate here!

[impishrex]

ATTN: I just posted my reply on another thread. HP admitted a recall issue for the 5520 (read below)

I am VERY upset with HP right now, I feel like I've been scammed by purchasing a printer that was created to fail by having a very short lifespan! I just purchased $60 worth of replacement ink, and now my perfectly good printer is useless (I only use this printer a few times a week for my business, and it worked yesterday), and to top it off, I just wasted 90% of the new ink running useless diagnostic tests. I just called HP and I tried to express that this exact black ink issue for the 5520 is explained on the HP forums, but they still wanted me to waste more of my time and more ink by running more useless tests, so I did.
 
BIZARRE: The black font shows on the Print Quality Diagnostic page, but the box for the black is empty, humm. When I told that to the tech, they said that didn't matter, and the black nozzle was not working.
 
RESULTS: I was told that my ink nozzle/head was broken and it could cost me up to $120 to fix it (hell, that's what the printer cost)! Or....I could buy a NEW printer from HP right now over the phone Unbelievable! So I asked for a supervisor, and Philip immediately admitted that....."YES, THERE IS A RECALL ISSUE ON THE 5520 PRINTER AND THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE".  Finally, some honesty!
 
Unfortunately, my printer is 2 years old, so now I'm S.O.O.L.
 
As I write this, I am waiting for a call back from tech support. I will be shocked if they can fix the issue. What a waste of my time and money. I'm trying to run my business while dealing with a known glitch that HP is hiding from their customers.
 
I have a sick feeling that these printers were either programmed to fail, or that the black HP ink cartridge that I just purchased and installed was defective and destroyed my PERFECTLY GOOD printer.
 
I have yet to read one post where someone has fixed this issue. All the posters just seem to disappear, where did they go?
 
This is shameful HP, and I'm not sure if I want to buy another printer from HP knowing that it will fail so quickly. Epsons are expensive, but my last one lasted a long time!

[fatladysang]

I was told HP has never had reports from anyone so they were unaware of an issue. My OLD HP printer still works but not w my 64 bit system as there is no compatible driver. Also the cartridges are expensive. But I an still hanging on to it... for now.

I got my print nozzle clean and working, but for how long? And didnt feel like spending money on ink that was gonna leak out. So I bought a Brother all in one as a replacement. It is built like a tank! I also purchased an entry level Brother laser printer for run of the mill every day black and white printing. LOVE THEM BOTH AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER HP PRINTER.

Yes and then they keep you on the phone for over an hour having you do the exact same thing over and over. I think they figure you will give up! I did! Good luck!

[impishrex]

UPDATE: So I waited for HP Tech Support to call me back as promised by Supervisor Philip (2-4 hour window). And guess what, I never received a call back.

This is pitiful customer service HP, I will never recommend your product. I really wanted to work this out and leave a good review.

[wessuess]

I wish I had read this before dropping over $60.00 in new carts. Couldve bought a new printer for that money... I have a 5520 which is barely a year old. Went to print and got mostly nothing. THEN the printer message that the ink was low came up. Was low for ALL colors, so I bought the color pack AND a black XL. No returning that stuff when you break off the orange tabby thing...

My 2nd grader and my 6th grader have papers due tomorrow. They look like garbage because we can't print black. I had to explain tot hem what to tell their teachers. I also had to tell their teachers that our printer is broken and please excude their projects on the basis of looks. Especially embarassing. since I'm in IT professionally...

I guess I'll have to take the time copying my receipt and writing a letter of complaint to HP. I doubt any refunds or credits will be coming my way.

[Anotherbiffo]

I regret buying this printer eight months ago. It has been nothing but hassle: it is noisy, slow, clunky, chews up paper and drinks ink as if it was an alcoholic. The cost of ink cartridges requires access to the national debt. Now, once again the black ink Xl cartridge refuses to release ink- farewell £30 and farewell HP. I'm cutting my losses and will not buy HP anything again. Hullo Epsom as recommended by Which?

[wessuess]

To date:  No email response.  No Twitter Response.  No Facebook response. HP is too busy splitting back up into HP and Compaq. 

I wonder where my old Okimate10 Color Printer is...

[Omar-E]

@wessuess 

Thank you for using HP support forum. I have sent you a private message. If you’re unsure how to check your private messages please click here.
Thank you,
Omar

[Davejk]

Omar, please send me a private message, too. I'm in the same boat with the 5520 not printing black. Have done all the trouble shooting at least twice.

HP has a responsibility not to rip off its customers like this.

[HP5520-No-Black]

I have the same issue. Bought several months back, site says no warranty, went to change ORIGINAL black cartridge and the things totally stops working. New cartridge, doesn't print. Back to old one, nothing either. Clean head, do all steps, uninstall and reinstall on computer. Nothing works, at this point I think it's just a brick. Is HP going to do anything? I'm too frustrated after 8 hours of trying to get it to work today to call tech support to be told nothing because it's out of warranty. It's less than a year old... So confused and frustrated.