How to pay for Lumina
Step by step, with pictures. Start with the 7-day free trial on a card, or pay straight away by bank transfer or USSD. Stuck? Common problems and fixes are at the bottom.
Pay by card (with the 7-day free trial)
Best choice: you get 7 days free, then the plan renews by itself so your shop never goes off. You need a debit or credit card that is switched on for online payments, and your phone nearby for the bank’s code.
Front
Back
- 1Card number. The long number on the front, usually 16 digits (Verve cards can have 19). Type it without spaces.
- 2Card expiry. Month and year, written MM/YY. On the sample: 08/29.
- 3CVV. The 3 numbers on the back, beside the signature strip.
- 4PIN (if asked). Your 4-digit ATM PIN. Many Nigerian cards ask for it. It goes to your bank through Paystack; Lumina never sees it.
- 5OTP (if asked). A one-time code your bank sends by SMS or email to finish the payment. Type it in as it arrives.
This is a made-up sample card. Never send your card details or PIN to anyone by chat, SMS or phone, including people saying they are from Lumina.
Pay by bank transfer
No card needed. You pay for the plan now (no free week) and it does not renew by itself; we remind you by email 7, 3 and 1 day before it ends.
Pay by USSD
Works on any phone, even without data. Same as transfer: paid now, reminders before it ends.
1. Yes
2. No
Codes and discounts
A friend’s code (6 characters, like 4FAA47)
Joined through a friend’s link? It is added for you. Got a code instead? Type it in the Friend’s code or promo code box on the plan screen or in Plan & billing. You get money off your first payment (the plan screen shows the new price before you pay) and bonus AI tokens.
A promo code (10 characters, like ABCDE-FGHJK)
Given out by Lumina. Type it in the same box: it opens a plan free for the number of days it says, with no card needed.
Want to earn? Share your own link from Invite & earn on your catalogs page: you get commission when shops you bring pay. More in the help centre
Common problems and fixes
›“The card holder was not authorised” or “There is an issue with your card”
Your bank stopped the payment at its security check, before any money moved. Lumina and Paystack did not decline it. Usually the card is not switched on for online payments. Open your bank app, go to Cards, and turn on online / web payments (some banks call it “internet transactions”), or call your bank. Then try again, or use another card.
›I did not get the OTP (code) from my bank
The code goes to the phone number and email your bank has for you. Check that the phone is on and has network, wait a minute, then press Resend if it is offered. If your number changed, update it with your bank first. Some banks ask you to approve in their app instead of a code.
›“Declined”, “Insufficient funds” or “Transaction not permitted”
The bank refused it: low balance, a daily limit, or the card type is not allowed online. Check your balance and limits in your bank app, or try another card. Paying by bank transfer or USSD also works (no free week that way).
›I paid but Lumina still says Free
Card payments usually show within a minute; a bank transfer can take a few minutes. Refresh the page and open Plan & billing. If it still says Free after 15 minutes, send us the Paystack receipt (it was emailed to you) on WhatsApp and we will sort it out.
›Where is my ₦50 card check?
We refund it straight after your card is checked. Paystack sends it back at once, but some banks take 3 to 10 working days to show it on your statement. You were never charged for the trial itself.
›I was charged twice
Send us both receipts on WhatsApp. A double charge is refunded in full to the same card or account.
›The transfer account number expired, or I sent the wrong amount
The account Paystack shows is only for that payment and only for a short time. If you sent money after it expired, or a different amount, send us your bank receipt on WhatsApp and we will trace it and fix it.
›“The free trial has already been used”
The 7-day trial is once per person and once per card. You can still pay for a plan straight away, by card, bank transfer or USSD.
›My friend’s code or promo code does not work
Check the characters: a friend’s code has 6 (like 4FAA47), a promo code has 10 (like ABCDE-FGHJK). Your own code does not work for you, and an account can join through only one friend.
›Why is paying by card cheaper?
A card with Renew automatically on costs 5% less, now and on every renewal, because nobody has to remember to pay again. Bank transfer, USSD and bank app pay the full price. If you turn automatic payment off later, your next payment is at the full price.
›How do I stop the automatic payment?
Open Plan & billing and untick Renew automatically. Your plan runs to its end date and then moves to Free; nothing more is charged. You can turn it back on any time.
›How do I change my card?
In Plan & billing press Remove next to the card, then pay once with the new card with Renew automatically ticked. The new card is saved for later renewals.
›I am paying from outside Nigeria
Visa and Mastercard from other countries work by card. You are charged in naira and your bank converts it. If your bank blocks it, ask them to allow online payments to Nigeria, or contact us.