Ajax error/Unexpected token at position 143

I have a VERY simple form using Contact form 7

<p>[text Name placeholder "Your Name"]</p>
<p>[email email-513 placeholder “Your Email”]</p>
<p>[submit “Submit!”]<p>

And I go to test it and all that happens on completion is the gray arrow circle spins spins spins. I went to inspect the element in Chrome and I see this weird div:
<div class=”ajax-error”>Unexpected token < in JSON at position 143</div>

I’m not a programmer so deciphering this has been difficult using Google search.
****I have disabled as many plug-ins as I can. (My dev site version works fine but it’s also a few previous versions of WP behind. I can’t rollback a live site!)
****I’m not using any SMTP plug-ins.

Is there a way to “fix” Contact Form 7 or reinstall it without losing my current forms?
How do I fix this?

….feeling frustrated after spending 3 hours on a 3-line form.