diff --git a/ocean_provider/routes/consume.py b/ocean_provider/routes/consume.py
index fe393330..91b6860a 100644
--- a/ocean_provider/routes/consume.py
+++ b/ocean_provider/routes/consume.py
@@ -337,15 +337,9 @@ def download():
     # the datatoken address
     asset = get_asset_from_metadatastore(get_metadata_url(), did)
 
-    consumable, message = asset.is_consumable(
-        credential={"type": "address", "value": [consumer_address]}
-    )
+    consumable, message = check_asset_consumable(asset, consumer_address, logger)
     if not consumable:
-        return error_response(
-            f"Asset cannot be consumed. Error: {message}",
-            400,
-            logger,
-        )
+        return error_response(message, 400, logger)
 
     service = asset.get_service_by_id(service_id)
 
diff --git a/ocean_provider/utils/credentials.py b/ocean_provider/utils/credentials.py
index 58ac5a27..4bd5fa33 100644
--- a/ocean_provider/utils/credentials.py
+++ b/ocean_provider/utils/credentials.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # Copyright 2023 Ocean Protocol Foundation
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 #
+import json
 from typing import Optional
 
 from ocean_provider.utils.consumable import ConsumableCodes, MalformedCredential
@@ -100,8 +101,14 @@ def get_address_entry_of_class(self, access_class: str = "allow") -> Optional[di
         """Get address credentials entry of the specified access class. access_class = "allow" or "deny"."""
         if not self.asset.credentials:
             return None
-        entries = self.asset.credentials.get(access_class, [])
-        address_entries = [entry for entry in entries if entry.get("type") == "address"]
+        if isinstance(self.asset.credentials, str):
+            credentials = json.loads(self.asset.credentials)
+        else:
+            credentials = self.asset.credentials
+        entries = credentials.get(access_class, [])
+        address_entries = [
+            entry for entry in entries if json.loads(entry).get("type") == "address"
+        ]
         return address_entries[0] if address_entries else None