A charge reading “SAFEWAY ST HELENA” or “SAFEWAY 2605” on your bank or credit card statement is a purchase from the Safeway grocery store at 1026 Hunt Ave in Saint Helena, California. The store’s number is 2605, and the charge covers whatever you bought there in person, at the fuel pump, or through delivery or pickup.1Safeway. Safeway Saint Helena If the dollar amount looks off, the explanation is usually one of a few familiar things.
How the Charge Reads on Your Statement
Safeway transactions post with “SAFEWAY” followed by a store number, and often a city, state, or a tag like “GROCERY,” “FUEL,” or “POS.”2Slash. Safeway Charge Identifier The Saint Helena store will show “2605,” “ST HELENA,” or both.3Safeway. Participating Store List A “FUEL” tag after the store number means the charge came from the fuel center, not the grocery side.
Why the Amount Might Look Wrong
The most common reason the number doesn’t match your expectations is the gap between an authorization hold and the final charge. When you place an online order for delivery or pickup, Safeway puts a temporary hold on your card for an “Estimated Total,” which is not the real charge. The final amount is calculated on the day the order goes out and can shift because produce is weighed, items are out of stock, substitutions happen, and taxes and fees are finalized. Your bank may take up to five business days after delivery to release the estimate and post the actual total, so during that window you can see what looks like a duplicate or an inflated charge.4Safeway. Online Shopping FAQ
Fuel pumps work the same way. Because the pump doesn’t know how much gas you’ll buy when you swipe, it places a pre-authorization hold that can range from $1 to over $100. That hold can sit for up to 72 hours before the real purchase amount replaces it. Paying inside the store with a debit card and PIN generally clears the hold almost immediately.
Recurring Monthly or Yearly Charges
If the charge repeats every month or every year, it’s probably FreshPass, Safeway’s unlimited-delivery subscription. FreshPass costs $12.99 per month or $99 per year and renews automatically.5Albertsons Companies. Albertsons Companies Unveils Simplified for U Loyalty Program A free trial that wasn’t canceled before it ended will have rolled into a paid subscription on the card you had on file.
To stop future charges, sign in to your Safeway account, open “Your Account Settings,” go to the “FreshPass” section, and choose “Cancel or Change Payment Card.” You can also cancel by emailing deliverysupport@safeway.com or calling 1-877-505-4040. Cancellation has to happen before the current billing period ends, or you’ll be charged for the next one.4Safeway. Online Shopping FAQ
Fees Added on Top of the Groceries
Delivery and pickup orders can carry fees separate from the grocery total. Scheduled delivery has a delivery fee unless waived by a promo code or FreshPass. A service fee may be added to delivery and pickup orders under $30. Some areas also collect bag fees under local rules. If you ordered through a third party such as Instacart’s Rush Delivery, the fees and pricing are set by that company rather than by Safeway, which can make the total harder to match against what you remember spending.4Safeway. Online Shopping FAQ
What to Do If You Still Don’t Recognize the Charge
Start inside your Safeway account. Sign in, open “Orders,” and review the itemized history for the dates that match your statement.4Safeway. Online Shopping FAQ For an in-store purchase, compare the charge against any paper receipt you still have.
If it still doesn’t add up, call Safeway. Delivery and pickup questions go to 877-505-4040, available 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM Pacific. General store and corporate questions go to 877-723-3929.6Safeway. Contact Us You can also reach the Saint Helena store directly at (707) 968-3620.1Safeway. Safeway Saint Helena Qualifying refunds post back to the original payment method or as a credit to your Safeway account for future online orders.4Safeway. Online Shopping FAQ If Safeway can’t resolve it and you believe the charge is unauthorized, you can still file a dispute with your bank or card issuer.