diff --git a/contracts/QuestFactory.sol b/contracts/QuestFactory.sol
index 9188d1b3..438c2abb 100644
--- a/contracts/QuestFactory.sol
+++ b/contracts/QuestFactory.sol
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ import {IERC1155} from "openzeppelin-contracts/token/ERC1155/IERC1155.sol";
 import {IQuestOwnable} from "./interfaces/IQuestOwnable.sol";
 import {IQuest1155Ownable} from "./interfaces/IQuest1155Ownable.sol";
 
+import "forge-std/console.sol";
+
+
 /// @title QuestFactory
 /// @author RabbitHole.gg
 /// @dev This contract is used to create quests and handle claims
@@ -31,7 +34,7 @@ contract QuestFactory is Initializable, LegacyStorage, OwnableRoles, IQuestFacto
     using LibClone for address;
     using LibString for string;
     using LibString for uint256;
-    using JSONParserLib for string;
+    using JSONParserLib for *; // for JSONParserLib.Item and string
 
     /*//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
                                 STORAGE
@@ -311,11 +314,12 @@ contract QuestFactory is Initializable, LegacyStorage, OwnableRoles, IQuestFacto
     /// @param signature_ The signature of the hash
     /// @param jsonData_ The extra data for the quest
     function claim(bytes32 hash_, bytes memory signature_, string memory jsonData_) external payable {
-        JSONParserLib.Item memory item;
-        item = jsonData_.parse();
+        JSONParserLib.Item memory item = jsonData_.parse();
 
-        address ref_ = address(bytes20(bytes(item.at('"ref"').value())));
-        string memory questId_ = item.at('"questId"').value();
+        string memory refString = item.at('"ref"').value().decodeString();
+        address ref_ = stringToAddress(refString);
+        string memory questId_ = item.at('"questId"').value().decodeString();
+        console.log("ref_", ref_);
 
         if (quests[questId_].questType.eq("erc1155")) {
             claim1155RewardsRef(ClaimData(questId_, hash_, signature_, ref_, 0, jsonData_));
@@ -324,6 +328,25 @@ contract QuestFactory is Initializable, LegacyStorage, OwnableRoles, IQuestFacto
         }
     }
 
+// todo put in a library contract
+function stringToAddress(string memory _a) public pure returns (address) {
+    bytes memory tmp = bytes(_a);
+    uint160 iaddr = 0;
+    uint160 b1;
+    uint160 b2;
+    for (uint i = 2; i < 2+2*20; i += 2) {
+        iaddr *= 256;
+        b1 = uint160(uint8(tmp[i]));
+        b2 = uint160(uint8(tmp[i+1]));
+        if ((b1 >= 97)&&(b1 <= 102)) b1 -= 87;
+        else if ((b1 >= 48)&&(b1 <= 57)) b1 -= 48;
+        if ((b2 >= 97)&&(b2 <= 102)) b2 -= 87;
+        else if ((b2 >= 48)&&(b2 <= 57)) b2 -= 48;
+        iaddr += (b1*16+b2);
+    }
+    return address(iaddr);
+}
+
     /// @dev universal claim function for all quest types
     /// @param questId_ The id of the quest
     /// @param hash_ The hash of the message
diff --git a/test/QuestFactory.t.sol b/test/QuestFactory.t.sol
index 24708579..52d0d2d9 100644
--- a/test/QuestFactory.t.sol
+++ b/test/QuestFactory.t.sol
@@ -11,12 +11,14 @@ import {Quest} from "contracts/Quest.sol";
 import {Quest1155} from "contracts/Quest1155.sol";
 import {SablierV2LockupLinearMock as SablierMock} from "./mocks/SablierV2LockupLinearMock.sol";
 import {LibClone} from "solady/utils/LibClone.sol";
+import {LibString} from "solady/utils/LibString.sol";
 import {Errors} from "./helpers/Errors.sol";
 import {Events} from "./helpers/Events.sol";
 import {TestUtils} from "./helpers/TestUtils.sol";
 
 contract TestQuestFactory is Test, Errors, Events, TestUtils {
     using LibClone for address;
+    using LibString for address;
 
     QuestFactory questFactory;
     SampleERC1155 sampleERC1155;
@@ -347,6 +349,44 @@ contract TestQuestFactory is Test, Errors, Events, TestUtils {
         assertEq(referrer.balance, MINT_FEE / 3, "referrer mint fee");
     }
 
+    function test_claim_with_jsonData() public{
+        vm.startPrank(owner);
+        questFactory.setRewardAllowlistAddress(address(sampleERC20), true);
+
+        vm.startPrank(questCreator);
+        sampleERC20.approve(address(questFactory), calculateTotalRewardsPlusFee(TOTAL_PARTICIPANTS, REWARD_AMOUNT, QUEST_FEE));
+        questFactory.createQuestAndQueue(
+            address(sampleERC20),
+            END_TIME,
+            START_TIME,
+            TOTAL_PARTICIPANTS,
+            REWARD_AMOUNT,
+            "questId2",
+            "actionSpec",
+            0
+        );
+
+        uint256 questCreatorBeforeBalance = questCreator.balance;
+        vm.warp(START_TIME + 1);
+
+        string memory referrerString = referrer.toHexString();
+        string memory json = string(abi.encodePacked('{"ref": "', referrerString, '", "questId": "questId2"}'));
+
+        bytes32 msgHash = keccak256(abi.encodePacked(participant, "questId2", referrer, json));
+        bytes memory signature = signHash(msgHash, claimSignerPrivateKey);
+
+        vm.startPrank(participant);
+        questFactory.claim{value: MINT_FEE}(msgHash, signature, json);
+
+        // erc20 reward
+        assertEq(sampleERC20.balanceOf(participant), REWARD_AMOUNT, "particpiant erc20 balance");
+
+        // claim fee rewards
+        assertEq(questCreator.balance - questCreatorBeforeBalance, MINT_FEE / 3, "questCreator mint fee");
+        assertEq(protocolFeeRecipient.balance, MINT_FEE / 3, "protocolFeeRecipient mint fee");
+        assertEq(referrer.balance, MINT_FEE / 3, "referrer mint fee");
+    }
+
     function test_claim_with_claimRewards_without_referrer() public{
         vm.startPrank(owner);
         questFactory.setRewardAllowlistAddress(address(sampleERC20), true);