An HEB 045 charge on your bank or credit card statement is a transaction from H-E-B, the Texas-based grocery chain, posted from the store or fulfillment point assigned the internal number 045. H-E-B purchases show up under many near-identical descriptors, such as “H-E-B #265,” “H-E-B #458,” or “HEB ONLINE #108,” with the number pointing to the specific location or online channel that handled the order.1Ramp. H-E-B Charge Finder2Brex. H-E-B Charge Finder
What the Store Number Tells You
H-E-B operates hundreds of stores across Texas and Mexico, and each one carries an internal identifier. When you swipe a card in-store, order curbside, or use delivery, the descriptor that posts to your statement generally includes that number. So “HEB 045” is simply H-E-B telling your bank which store rang up the sale. Orders routed through H-E-B’s delivery arm, Favor, can post with related descriptors as well; Favor notes that a card authorization may appear as “Favor [Store Name]” when an order is placed.3Favor Delivery. FAQ
Why the Amount May Not Match What You Expected
Before treating an H-E-B charge as fraud, check whether one of these explains the number you’re seeing.
- Preauthorization holds. H-E-B’s terms say the company authorizes your card for 100 percent of the estimated total when you place an online or curbside order, and the actual charge posts on the day of pickup or delivery. If the first authorization expires before fulfillment, H-E-B may request a new one for the same amount, which can look like two charges for one order even though the hold will drop off.4H-E-B. Terms of Use
- Variable-weight items. Meat, produce, and other items priced by weight are estimated at checkout and finalized when your order is prepared, so the posted amount can shift slightly.4H-E-B. Terms of Use
- Substitutions. If something in a curbside or delivery order is out of stock, H-E-B may substitute and charge the replacement price.4H-E-B. Terms of Use
- Small-basket surcharge. Curbside orders under H-E-B’s $35 minimum carry a $2.95 surcharge.5Houston Chronicle. H-E-B Curbside Prices
- Someone else on the card. A spouse, family member, or authorized user may have made the purchase.
Check It With H-E-B First
Signing into your H-E-B account is the quickest sanity check, because your order history will show whether a purchase lines up with the charge. If it doesn’t, use H-E-B’s online contact form, which lists a typical response time of 48 hours. Payment issues tied to curbside or delivery go through the curbside-specific contact form.6H-E-B. Contact Us
If your card is an H-E-B Debit Account issued through Netspend, that program has its own support line at 800-268-4739, open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central and weekends 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central.7H-E-B Debit. Contact H-E-B Federal Credit Union members who suspect fraud on a debit or credit card should call 210-938-7850.8H-E-B Federal Credit Union. Lost or Stolen Cards
Disputing an Unauthorized Charge
If the charge isn’t a hold, isn’t a household member’s purchase, and H-E-B can’t match it to an order, you have formal dispute rights. The Fair Credit Billing Act requires that you send a written dispute to your card issuer’s billing-inquiry address within 60 days of the statement date on which the charge first appeared.9Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How Do I Dispute a Charge on My Credit Card Bill Include your name, account number, the amount, and why you believe the charge is wrong. Certified mail with a return receipt gives you proof of delivery.10Federal Trade Commission. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
Once you’ve notified the issuer, it must acknowledge your dispute in writing within 30 days and resolve it within 90.9Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How Do I Dispute a Charge on My Credit Card Bill While the investigation runs, the issuer can’t report the disputed amount as delinquent, and you can withhold payment on that amount while paying the rest of the bill. Federal law caps your liability for unauthorized credit card charges at $50.10Federal Trade Commission. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
If the issuer sides with the merchant, you’ll get a written explanation and a payment deadline. You can escalate by filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and suspected identity theft can be reported at IdentityTheft.gov.11Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Credit Card and Debit Card Fraud