diff --git a/common/djangoapps/course_modes/views.py b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/views.py
index d98ac6fa0b..b3c3e0bbfb 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/course_modes/views.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/views.py
@@ -19,14 +19,15 @@ from student.views import course_from_id
 class ChooseModeView(View):
 
     @method_decorator(login_required)
-    def get(self, request):
+    def get(self, request, error=None):
         course_id = request.GET.get("course_id")
         modes = CourseMode.modes_for_course_dict(course_id)
         context = {
             "course_id": course_id,
             "modes": modes,
             "course_name": course_from_id(course_id).display_name,
-            "chosen_price" : None,
+            "chosen_price": None,
+            "error": error,
         }
         if "verified" in modes:
             context["suggested_prices"] = modes["verified"].suggested_prices.split(",")
@@ -43,7 +44,8 @@ class ChooseModeView(View):
         # but I don't really have the time to refactor it more nicely and test.
         course = course_from_id(course_id)
         if not has_access(user, course, 'enroll'):
-            return HttpResponseBadRequest(_("Enrollment is closed"))
+            error_msg = _("Enrollment is closed")
+            return self.get(request, error=error_msg)
 
         requested_mode = self.get_requested_mode(request.POST.get("mode"))
 
@@ -55,16 +57,20 @@ class ChooseModeView(View):
             CourseEnrollment.enroll(user, course_id)
             return redirect('dashboard')
 
+        mode_info = allowed_modes[requested_mode]
+
         if requested_mode == "verified":
             amount = request.POST.get("contribution") or \
-                     request.POST.get("contribution-other-amt") or \
-                     requested_mode.min_price.format("{:g}")
+                request.POST.get("contribution-other-amt") or 0
 
             donation_for_course = request.session.get("donation_for_course", {})
             donation_for_course[course_id] = amount
             request.session["donation_for_course"] = donation_for_course
 
-            # TODO: Check here for minimum pricing
+            # Check for minimum pricing
+            if int(amount) < mode_info.min_price:
+                error_msg = _("No selected price or selected price is too low.")
+                return self.get(request, error=error_msg)
 
             return redirect(
                 "{}?{}".format(
@@ -75,7 +81,7 @@ class ChooseModeView(View):
 
     def get_requested_mode(self, user_choice):
         choices = {
-            "Select Audit" : "audit",
-            "Select Certificate" : "verified"
+            "Select Audit": "audit",
+            "Select Certificate": "verified"
         }
         return choices.get(user_choice)
diff --git a/common/templates/course_modes/choose.html b/common/templates/course_modes/choose.html
index 7f2aa01555..936a0ecc40 100644
--- a/common/templates/course_modes/choose.html
+++ b/common/templates/course_modes/choose.html
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@
     <header class="page-header header-white">
       <h2 class="title header-white-title">You are registering for ${course_name} (ID Verified)</h2>
     </header>
+    %if error:
+    <div class="error">
+        ${error}
+    </div>
+    %endif
     <h3 class="title">Select your track:</h3>
 
     <form method="post" name="enrollment_mode_form" id="enrollment_mode_form">
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/processors/CyberSource.py b/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/processors/CyberSource.py
index 6340e4d6bb..34a38d182a 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/processors/CyberSource.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/processors/CyberSource.py
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ def render_purchase_form_html(cart):
     """
     return render_to_string('shoppingcart/cybersource_form.html', {
         'action': get_purchase_endpoint(),
-        'params': get_signed_purchase_params(params),
+        'params': get_signed_purchase_params(cart),
     })
 
 def get_signed_purchase_params(cart):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
index 4c76251d84..60ff619c84 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ from mitxmako.shortcuts import render_to_response
 
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
-from django.http import HttpResponse
+from django.http import HttpResponse, HttpResponseBadRequest
 from django.shortcuts import redirect
 from django.views.generic.base import View
+from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
 
 from course_modes.models import CourseMode
 from student.models import CourseEnrollment
@@ -47,14 +48,14 @@ class VerifyView(View):
         else:
             chosen_price = verify_mode.min_price.format("{:g}")
         context = {
-            "progress_state" : progress_state,
-            "user_full_name" : request.user.profile.name,
-            "course_id" : course_id,
-            "course_name" : course_from_id(course_id).display_name,
-            "purchase_endpoint" : get_purchase_endpoint(),
-            "suggested_prices" : verify_mode.suggested_prices.split(","),
-            "currency" : verify_mode.currency.upper(),
-            "chosen_price" : chosen_price,
+            "progress_state": progress_state,
+            "user_full_name": request.user.profile.name,
+            "course_id": course_id,
+            "course_name": course_from_id(course_id).display_name,
+            "purchase_endpoint": get_purchase_endpoint(),
+            "suggested_prices": verify_mode.suggested_prices.split(","),
+            "currency": verify_mode.currency.upper(),
+            "chosen_price": chosen_price,
         }
 
         return render_to_response('verify_student/photo_verification.html', context)
@@ -66,17 +67,20 @@ def create_order(request):
     attempt.save()
 
     course_id = request.POST['course_id']
-    donation_for_course = request.session.get("donation_for_course", {})
+    contribution = request.POST.get("contribution", 0)
 
-    # FIXME: When this isn't available we do...?
-    verified_mode = CourseMode.modes_for_course_dict(course_id)["verified"]
-    amount = donation_for_course.get(course_id, verified_mode.min_price)
+    verified_mode = CourseMode.modes_for_course_dict(course_id).get('verified', None)
+    # make sure this course has a verified mode
+    if not verified_mode:
+        return HttpResponseBadRequest(_("This course doesn't support verified certificates"))
+
+    if contribution < verified_mode.min_price:
+        return HttpResponseBadRequest(_("No selected price or selected price is below minimum."))
 
     # I know, we should check this is valid. All kinds of stuff missing here
-    # enrollment = CourseEnrollment.create_enrollment(request.user, course_id)
     cart = Order.get_cart_for_user(request.user)
     cart.clear()
-    CertificateItem.add_to_order(cart, course_id, amount, 'verified')
+    CertificateItem.add_to_order(cart, course_id, contribution, 'verified')
 
     params = get_signed_purchase_params(cart)
 
diff --git a/lms/templates/verify_student/photo_verification.html b/lms/templates/verify_student/photo_verification.html
index 590b399ace..0bfc2a3a49 100644
--- a/lms/templates/verify_student/photo_verification.html
+++ b/lms/templates/verify_student/photo_verification.html
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
     .done(function(data) {
       $("#pay_form").submit();
     })
-    .fail(function() { alert("error"); });
+    .fail(function(jqXhr,text_status, error_thrown) { alert(jqXhr.responseText); });
   }
 
   function initSnapshotHandler(names) {