diff --git a/src/saml2/client.py b/src/saml2/client.py
index a9f35e2..54cf5ee 100644
--- a/src/saml2/client.py
+++ b/src/saml2/client.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ FORM_SPEC = """<form method="post" action="%s">
    <input type="submit" value="Submit" />
 </form>"""
 
-LAX = False
+LAX = True
 
 SESSION_INFO = {"ava":{}, "came from":"", "not_on_or_after":0,
                     "issuer":"", "session_id":-1}
@@ -294,7 +294,8 @@ class Saml2Client(object):
         assert assertion.conditions
         condition = assertion.conditions
         log and log.info("condition: %s" % condition)
-        now = time.gmtime()        
+        now = time.gmtime()
+        log and log.info("now: %s" % time.mktime(now))
         not_on_or_after = str_to_time(condition.not_on_or_after)        
         if not_on_or_after < now:
             # To old ignore
@@ -302,10 +303,12 @@ class Saml2Client(object):
                 raise Exception("To old can't use it")
 
         not_before = str_to_time(condition.not_before)        
+        log and log.info("not_before: %s" % time.mktime(not_before))
         if not_before > now:
             # Can't use it yet
             if not LAX:
-                raise Exception("Can't use it yet")
+                raise Exception("Can't use it yet %s <= %s" (
+                                time.mktime(not_before), time.mktime(now)))
 
         if not for_me(condition, requestor):
             if not LAX:
diff --git a/src/saml2/time_util.py b/src/saml2/time_util.py
index 8dc0d36..4c15fc8 100644
--- a/src/saml2/time_util.py
+++ b/src/saml2/time_util.py
@@ -203,5 +203,5 @@ def str_to_time(timestr):
     return then
 
 def instant():
-    return datetime.now().strftime(TIME_FORMAT)
+    return datetime.utcnow().strftime(TIME_FORMAT)
     
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/test_time_util.py b/tests/test_time_util.py
index 4130790..d56c861 100644
--- a/tests/test_time_util.py
+++ b/tests/test_time_util.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 
+import time
 from saml2.time_util import f_quotient, modulo, parse_duration, add_duration
-from saml2.time_util import str_to_time
+from saml2.time_util import str_to_time, instant
 
 def test_f_quotient():
     assert f_quotient(-1,3) == -1
@@ -63,4 +64,16 @@ def test_add_duration_2():
     assert t.tm_hour == 9
     assert t.tm_min == 0
     assert t.tm_sec == 0
+    
+def test_str_to_time():
+    t = time.mktime(str_to_time("2000-01-12T00:00:00Z"))
+    assert t == 947631600.0
+    
+def test_instant():
+    inst = str_to_time(instant())
+    print inst
+    now = time.gmtime()
+    print now
+    
+    assert now >= inst
     
\ No newline at end of file