diff --git a/app/services/payments/process_credit_purchase.rb b/app/services/payments/process_credit_purchase.rb
index f9cb3aa44..e150f1440 100644
--- a/app/services/payments/process_credit_purchase.rb
+++ b/app/services/payments/process_credit_purchase.rb
@@ -25,8 +25,13 @@ module Payments
     end
 
     def call
-      process_purchase
-      create_credits if success?
+      if payment_method_provided?
+        process_purchase
+        create_credits if success?
+      else
+        self.error = I18n.t("services.payments.errors.select_payment_method")
+      end
+
       self
     end
 
@@ -39,6 +44,11 @@ module Payments
     attr_accessor :user, :credits_count, :success, :purchase_options
     attr_writer :purchaser, :error
 
+    def payment_method_provided?
+      # we expect at least one of :stripe_token or :selected_card to process
+      purchase_options.slice(:stripe_token, :selected_card).compact_blank.present?
+    end
+
     def process_purchase
       customer = find_or_create_customer
       update_user_stripe_info(customer)
diff --git a/config/locales/services/payments/en.yml b/config/locales/services/payments/en.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6dc29b408
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/locales/services/payments/en.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+en:
+  services:
+    payments:
+      errors:
+        select_payment_method: "Please select a payment method"
diff --git a/config/locales/services/payments/fr.yml b/config/locales/services/payments/fr.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..740dabaa6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/locales/services/payments/fr.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+fr:
+  services:
+    payments:
+      errors:
+        select_payment_method: "Please choose a payment method"
diff --git a/spec/services/payments/process_credit_purchase_spec.rb b/spec/services/payments/process_credit_purchase_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..debfce6a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/services/payments/process_credit_purchase_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+require "rails_helper"
+
+RSpec.describe Payments::ProcessCreditPurchase, type: :service do
+  describe ".call" do
+    let(:purchase_options) { {} }
+
+    it "sets error if no payment method" do
+      purchase = described_class.call(:nouser, :nocredits, purchase_options: purchase_options)
+
+      expect(purchase.error).to eq(I18n.t("services.payments.errors.select_payment_method"))
+    end
+
+    context "when a payment error occurs" do
+      let(:customer) { Stripe::Customer.create }
+      let(:user) { instance_double(User, id: :id, stripe_id_code: customer.id) }
+      let(:purchase_options) { { stripe_token: :token } }
+
+      before do
+        StripeMock.start
+      end
+
+      after do
+        StripeMock.stop
+      end
+
+      it "sets error if less than 1 credit ordered" do
+        purchase = described_class.call(user, 0, purchase_options: purchase_options)
+
+        expect(purchase.error).to eq("Invalid positive integer")
+      end
+
+      it "sets error if payment error is raised" do
+        # this customer get call is the first thing call does
+        allow(Payments::Customer)
+          .to receive(:get)
+          .with(customer.id)
+          .and_raise(Payments::PaymentsError, "Message")
+
+        purchase = described_class.call(user, 1, purchase_options: purchase_options)
+
+        expect(purchase.error).to eq("Message")
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end