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A recent HP class action lawsuit claims that its printers use colored ink even when printing in black and white.
Plaintiff Christina Rose claims that, despite printing images and text in black and white, HP printers use “substantial” amounts of color ink.
The HP class action lawsuit claims that consumers are not told their color ink will be depleted faster than expected.
Rose reportedly purchased her HP OfficeJet Pro 8630 printer in 2017. Upon seeing that the printer came with both black and color ink, Rose says she believed she would have the ability to print in both color and black and white. She notes that nothing on the printer packaging indicated that the printer would use color ink while printing in black and white.
Allegedly, Rose is one of many consumers who were deceived by HP’s representations. As a result, Rose’s color ink supply has diminished without her knowledge. She claims she has been denied the ability to print in black and white due to her colored ink being depleted.
“Ms. Rose has had to purchase multi-pack color ink replacement cartridges on at least three occasions, and a standalone magenta replacement cartridge, in order to continue printing in black ink,” the HP class action lawsuit notes.
HP printers are considered some of the best products on the market, allowing consumers to print in both color and black and white from their homes. However, Rose argues that HP intentionally designed their devices to use up colored ink in a process called underprinting.
The underprinting reportedly involves using a significant amount of colored ink under black ink, even when a text or image is only black and white. This process allegedly drains colored ink from a printer’s reserves without a consumer’s knowledge. Rose argues that this design is an intentional way to force consumers to purchase more ink.
“As a result of underprinting, color ink is depleted even when printing images or text in black and white, forcing consumers to use more color ink, and therefore spend more money, than they reasonably expect to,” the HP class action lawsuit argues.
“HP further intentionally designed and engineered the Product to cease printing in black ink if the Product’s color ink is depleted, even if the consumer wants to print a black image or text.”
Rose argues that HP was unjustly enriched by their conduct because ink cartridge sales represent the majority of the company’s revenues and profits. When consumers are forced to spend money not only on black ink but also on more expensive color ink, HP allegedly profits.
“Unlike the fixed, upfront, and relatively cheap cost of a printer, the ink and toner cartridges used in printers can ultimately be more costly to consumers because they require periodic replacement,” the HP class action lawsuit notes.
According to the HP class action lawsuit, the printer company should have informed consumers that printing in only black ink would also require colored ink.
Consumers are reportedly reasonable in assuming that colored ink is not required, meaning that HP’s lack of warning deceives them and influences their purchases.
Rose argues that she and other consumers would not have purchased the printers or would have paid significantly less if HP had revealed that black and white or text printing needed color ink.
“Ms. Rose would not have purchased the Printer or would have paid significantly less for it had she known that the Printer would engage in underprinting or that she would not be able to print images or text in black and white unless the color ink was also in supply,” the HP class action lawsuit claims.
“Moreover, Ms. Rose would have purchased fewer replacement color ink cartridges but for Defendant’s conduct.”
Although Rose was allegedly deceived by HP’s conduct, she says she would continue to purchase and use HP printers if the company accurately disclosed the truth about their printers.
However, she argues that she and other consumers will continue to bear “ongoing injury” until HP ceases their deceptive marketing practices.
Do you own an HP printer? Have you had to purchase an excessive amount of ink for your printer? Share your experiences in the comment section below.
Rose and the proposed Class are represented by Benjamin Heikali and Joshua Nassir of Faruqi & Faruqi LLP and Bonner C. Walsh of Walsh PLLC.
The HP Printer Ink Class Action Lawsuit is Rose v. HP Inc., Case No. 5:20-cv-02450-NC, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
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2,035 thoughts onHP Class Action Alleges Printer Ink Defect
I too had the same problem. Hp6500a. Then the black ink seemed to leak on inside causing printer head problem error. Replaced print head and code continues to display.
The ink that came with my HP Photosmart 6515 computer was all dried out. Consequently, I bought a 564 XL 4-Pack at Walmart’s physical store. At home, when I opened the package, two of the cartridges were empty and when I tried to return them to Walmart, they, in essence, told me that it could not be done. [The 30-day warranty was up, don’t you know?]
HP Customer Service was not much use either. They said the same thing about the 30-day warranty and since I bought it at a physical store I am screwed. Now I am out of pocket for the two empty cartridges with no way to be reimbursed.
I’m considering joining the class action lawsuit against HP about its defective ink.
This is ridiculous! I have a HP8610 and I needed to print out an application for a job. I followed HP fix and it still didn’t work. I’ve had to spend several hundred dollars to get color when I still had plenty of black.
I just needed to print black. Their fix didn’t work and I wasn’t able to get my application in on time. This could affect my employment. I’m tired of this not being fixed!
Bought two sets if 910 ink. Printer said both blue and yellow were bad. Walmart took the one I bought there back and gave a credit to our card. Best But would not! They said it had to appear on the U.S. recall website. We couldn’t find it so now I am out approximately $40! Any help would be appreciated!
My business office had a HP LaserJet with this same problem! We spent so much time and money trying to figure out what was wrong. Please submit my company’s name and owner name to this list. We, too, could write a book full of frustrations that, so far, have not ended with throwing the printer out the window.
I owned an HP Officejet 6700 premium and I had the exact same ink issues as described above. The ink was always empty or the printer refused to print if one of the 4 cartridges was empty. I had no idea about the under printing, and I’d that’s true, then that is extremely shady.
HP Officejet 6830 ink cartridge #934XL will not print black ink. My 6830 started to have black ink printing problems Spring 2020. Black ink would get steaky then eventually fade to nothing. Massive printhead cleaning with program and printing in super high quality would bring it back briefly but then gone again. Tried to buy new HP ink cartridges but HP had recalled all cartridges of this type. Waited 6 months or so til cartridges came available again. Tried new cartridge and stll nothing. Removed printhead and went through extensive clean process. Still nothing. Purchased new printhead and installed today. Color will print still but still no black. Ran many printhead cleanings, tried printhead allign but always fails because no black ink test lines are printed. Tried the unplug reset procedure. Still nothing so I have tried everything I can find on this forum or anywhere else on the internet to try. I’m thinking something with the recalled cartridges damaged something but I can’t find any info on why there was a recall. Don’t really want to make this printer a boat anchor. Please help. Thanks
Maybe time for a class action lawsuit
I’m having the SAME EXACT PROBLEM with my HP 6978.
I’m having the SAME EXACT PROBLEM with my HP 6978.
I own a HP office jet pro
It takes 910 cartridges
Despite using HP authentic cartridges from Costco my color ink depletes and my print heads clog. Color cartridges are out of stock most places and I can’t print B&W with a full 910xl cartridge
I called HP to amicably resolve this only to be constantly uphold on another printer and told my problem is not their concern
I need to buy a more expensive printer
I have a 910xl black cartridge that is part of the recall by dates listed on their website and the rep on the phone
Expiration dates 2/2022-10/2022 ours is 6/2022.
I told him June is after February and before October
I’m so frustrated
I purchased an HP Office Inkjet 8020 and am having the same issues as everyone else.
Found this page looking for a solution to this exact problem. Our black-ink cartridge is half full, but the printer won’t print because magenta is empty, even though all instructions given to the print job are to print the document in black and white.
This is theft.
Today we’re having to go outside of the home for an emergency print job even though we’ve got half a cartridge of black ink in the print that should work for a black form (with print “black & white only” selected in the print instructions).
Going to let my wife’s father to stay away from HP (he’s printer shopping).