HP subscription ink cancelled and told cartridges will no longer work

Izzywizzypoppypoo

I have had an HP subscription for ink cartridges since August 2020, since we bought our printer.
I don't feel that it is worth continuing as I don't print often.
I cancelled the subscription and was told by HP......

"Your HP InstantInk subscription was canceled on 13 January 2025 and we noticed you still have HP Instant Ink subscription cartridges installed in your HP DeskJet 2710 All-in-One Printer.  HP Instant Ink subscription cartridges only work with an active subscription. To continue printing please replace the HP Instant Ink subscription cartridges with cartridges compatible with your printer." I really don't understand how I am not allowed to use the cartridges already installed as I have paid for them? Also, how on earth are they able to stop the cartridges from working - it really sounds Big Brother to me? Thanks in anticipation for your replies.

Aylesbury_Duck

Izzywizzypoppypoo said:

I have had an HP subscription for ink cartridges since August 2020, since we bought our printer.
I don't feel that it is worth continuing as I don't print often.
I cancelled the subscription and was told by HP......

"Your HP InstantInk subscription was canceled on 13 January 2025 and we noticed you still have HP Instant Ink subscription cartridges installed in your HP DeskJet 2710 All-in-One Printer.  HP Instant Ink subscription cartridges only work with an active subscription. To continue printing please replace the HP Instant Ink subscription cartridges with cartridges compatible with your printer." I really don't understand how I am not allowed to use the cartridges already installed as I have paid for them? Also, how on earth are they able to stop the cartridges from working - it really sounds Big Brother to me? Thanks in anticipation for your replies.

I recall a similar question on here before.  It's all in the terms and conditions of the subscription, so I'd go and read them to check that they're applying them fairly.  Your subscription doesn't buy the cartridges in the traditional sense, you're paying for each page you print.  It's a little like buying a phone plus airtime contract.  If you stop the monthly payments, you can't make calls on that SIM any longer, even though you own the phone and still have the SIM card.  You have to go and get a new SIM to be able to make calls, just like you need to buy new cartridges to be able to print.

It's quite simple to disable them remotely.  Your printer will communicate to HP as part of the subscription, and you will have agreed to that.  I suspect there's a way you can take the printer offline, to trick it into continuing to print.  Have a look on forums for advice.

Emmia

Or buy a new printer without this rubbish.

born_again

If you hardly do any printing. Then look for a cheap laser printer. While you will pay more upfront. You will not be wasting money on cartridges that dry up through lack of use.
I bought one 4 years ago, still on same toner carts & have not even gone through 200 sheets of paper. Prints 1st time every time. So no wasted paper as well 👍

HumberFlyer

You don't like it... but you agreed to the terms and conditions when you started the subscription........it's all there.

QrizB

Izzywizzypoppypoo said:

I really don't understand how I am not allowed to use the cartridges already installed as I have paid for them?

Also, how on earth are they able to stop the cartridges from working - it really sounds Big Brother to me?

Thanks in anticipation for your replies.

We are living in a cyberpunk dystopia.

Here's a bit of light reading:

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/01/unauthorized-bread-a-near-future-tale-of-refugees-and-sinister-iot-appliances/

Ectophile

I really don't understand how I am not allowed to use the cartridges already installed as I have paid for them?

Also, how on earth are they able to stop the cartridges from working - it really sounds Big Brother to me?

You haven't bought the cartridges, you rented them.  And now you have cancelled the rental.

They stopped working because your printer is connected to the internet.  It has to be in order to request new cartridges when the old ones run out.

If you pop down to a computer store and buy your own cartridges, they should work fine.  Unless they are non-genuine ones, in which case, they might work.

35har1old

Ectophile said:

I really don't understand how I am not allowed to use the cartridges already installed as I have paid for them?

Also, how on earth are they able to stop the cartridges from working - it really sounds Big Brother to me?

You haven't bought the cartridges, you rented them.  And now you have cancelled the rental.

They stopped working because your printer is connected to the internet.  It has to be in order to request new cartridges when the old ones run out.

If you pop down to a computer store and buy your own cartridges, they should work fine.  Unless they are non-genuine ones, in which case, they might work.

Can you not disable Internet connection?
Could you not have paused the subscription 

400ixl

born_again said:

If you hardly do any printing. Then look for a cheap laser printer. While you will pay more upfront. You will not be wasting money on cartridges that dry up through lack of use.
I bought one 4 years ago, still on same toner carts & have not even gone through 200 sheets of paper. Prints 1st time every time. So no wasted paper as well 👍

That hasn't been an issue with inkjets for a decade or two. Non problem solved a long while ago.

No need to waste money buying a laser printer.

HillStreetBlues

400ixl said:

born_again said:

If you hardly do any printing. Then look for a cheap laser printer. While you will pay more upfront. You will not be wasting money on cartridges that dry up through lack of use.
I bought one 4 years ago, still on same toner carts & have not even gone through 200 sheets of paper. Prints 1st time every time. So no wasted paper as well 👍

That hasn't been an issue with inkjets for a decade or two. Non problem solved a long while ago.

No need to waste money buying a laser printer.

It can be solved by "cleaning cycle" the issue is that uses ink, and you have to at lease turn the printer on for that to happen.

RefluentBeans

35har1old said:

Ectophile said:

I really don't understand how I am not allowed to use the cartridges already installed as I have paid for them?

Also, how on earth are they able to stop the cartridges from working - it really sounds Big Brother to me?

You haven't bought the cartridges, you rented them.  And now you have cancelled the rental.

They stopped working because your printer is connected to the internet.  It has to be in order to request new cartridges when the old ones run out.

If you pop down to a computer store and buy your own cartridges, they should work fine.  Unless they are non-genuine ones, in which case, they might work.

Can you not disable Internet connection?
Could you not have paused the subscription 

It generally will work for a month or so - but when you don’t connect the printer to the internet it also stops working. The pages then count as the day you printed them - so you either could end up in debt because they are counted after subscription has ended (but HP probably wouldn’t pursue legally), or you eat through a chunk of the next set of pages. 

Generally, I found the InstantInk a decent way to print stuff off - you don’t worry as much about colour (using colour cartridges faster etc) because you know you’ll get them replaced. But it’s horses for courses.