diff --git a/templates/pro.html b/templates/pro.html
index d2b3c7c..0aec7b9 100644
--- a/templates/pro.html
+++ b/templates/pro.html
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
   {% endif %}
   {% if request.GET.declined %}
     <div class="alert alert-error" style="margin: 30px;">
-      <strong>Your card was declined.</strong> You have not been charged. Please try again.
+      <strong>{{ request.GET.declined }}</strong> You have not been charged. Please try again.
     </div>
   {% endif %}
   <form class="form-horizontal static-box" id="pro-signup" method="post" action="/pro/complete/{% if 'plan' in request.GET %}?plan={{ request.GET.plan }}{% endif %}">
diff --git a/views.py b/views.py
index b238d22..c12b910 100644
--- a/views.py
+++ b/views.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ from accounts.models import UserProfile
 from annoying.decorators import ajax_request
 from blogs.views import blog_list
 from django.http import HttpResponseRedirect, HttpResponseBadRequest
+from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth.decorators import login_required
 from annoying.decorators import ajax_request, render_to
 from django.shortcuts import render_to_response
@@ -102,17 +103,18 @@ def pro_complete(request):
     if request.method == 'POST':
 
         token = request.POST['token']
-        stripe.api_key = os.environ.get('STRIPE_SECRET_KEY', '')
+        stripe.api_key = os.environ.get('STRIPE_SECRET_KEY', settings.STRIPE_SECRET_KEY)
 
-        customer = stripe.Customer.create(email=request.user.email,
-                                          card=token)
         try:
+            customer = stripe.Customer.create(email=request.user.email,
+                                              card=token)
             stripe.Charge.create(amount=2900,
                                  currency='usd',
                                  customer=customer.id,
                                  description='Snipt.net')
-        except stripe.CardError:
-            return HttpResponseRedirect('/pro/?declined=true')
+        except stripe.CardError, e:
+            error_message = e.json_body['error']['message']
+            return HttpResponseRedirect('/pro/?declined=%s' % error_message or 'Your card was declined.')
 
         profile = request.user.profile
         profile.is_pro = True