Access to Printer Cut Off

[FINN201]

The debit card on my account expired. Suddenly, I was unable to use my printer. It had been disabled by HP, because my debit card had expired. I can understand that HP would consider suspending my Instant Ink account until the debit card info had been updated. I think it is outrageous that my ability to use the printer would be cut off. Apparently HP claims to own the ink cartridges I am using, which I have paid for—for years on my account. 

[Repairatrooper]

instant ink is a subscription, you pay monthly and HP for their part agrees to supply ink to enable you to print the pages. You are not purchasing the ink, only the ability to print pages. No different than a cellphone, you own the phone, but stop paying your bill and you will quickly find you cannot call anyone.

Refer to this article 

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printers-Knowledge-Base/HP-PLANS-INK-AND-TONER/ta-p/7924839

[FINN201]

Thank you for your explanation. I understand you do not work for HP.

For many years I bought ink cartridges at Staples. When I saw the promotional material for the HP Instant Ink service, I understood it to simply be a more convenient and potentially cheaper way to purchase ink. I did not understand it to constitute a change in my relationship to my printer. Does this mean that if I quit the Instant Ink program I will have to discontinue using the ink cartridges I have already paid for?

The cell phone analogy is helpful. But I use my cellphone service daily. I pay for Instant Ink every month, but get a set of cartridges only once or twice a year. I consider the ink cartridges themselves to be a product, not a service. If my credit card information for my newspaper subscription lapses, I may not receive new newspapers, but I can still read the ones I already paid for and possess.