diff --git a/combo/apps/lingo/models.py b/combo/apps/lingo/models.py
index 83b4ded5..204530bf 100644
--- a/combo/apps/lingo/models.py
+++ b/combo/apps/lingo/models.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from django.db import models
 from django.forms import models as model_forms, Select
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
-from django.utils import timezone, dateparse
+from django.utils import timezone, dateparse, six
 from django.core.mail import EmailMultiAlternatives
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist, PermissionDenied
@@ -99,6 +99,13 @@ class PaymentBackend(models.Model):
         return self.label
 
     def get_payment(self):
+        if isinstance(self.service_options, six.string_types):
+            # backward compatibility when used againt postgresql < 9.4 and
+            # service_options is received as a string.
+            try:
+                self.service_options = json.loads(self.service_options)
+            except ValueError:
+                pass
         return eopayment.Payment(self.service, self.service_options)