# RON & Certified Mail API Research — Debt Recovery Domain

Research performed July 2026. All data sourced from live page fetches of vendor websites.

## Remote Online Notarization (RON) APIs

### Proof (formerly Notarize) — https://www.proof.com

| Dimension | Detail |
|-----------|--------|
| **Pricing (Pro)** | $25/notarization (in-house), $10/additional seal, $10/on-demand witness, $5/additional signer |
| **Pricing (Premium)** | Billed annually, custom — API access tier |
| **Identity verification** | $4/signer (NIST IAL2) |
| **eSignature** | $4/transaction |
| **API** | REST with webhooks (Premium+), sandbox (Enterprise) |
| **Integrations** | Salesforce, eOriginal, Adobe eSign |
| **Notary network** | 24/7 on-demand notaries via Notarize℠ Network |
| **Texas compliant** | ✅ HB 3496 (2017), SB 1624 (2021) — audio-video, KBA, credential analysis, electronic journal |
| **All 50 states** | ✅ Notarizations accepted nationwide |

Plans: **Pro** (≤25 tx/mo), **Premium** (mid-size, billed annually, API access), **Enterprise** (custom, sandbox, SSO, dedicated CSM).

### Pavaso — https://www.pavaso.com

- Custom enterprise pricing only
- Texas-based, focused on real estate eClosings
- Platform for lenders, title companies, attorneys
- Overkill for POA notarization in debt recovery

### OneNotary — https://www.onenotary.com

- Consumer-facing, ~$25-35/notarization
- No public REST API advertised
- Texas compliant but poor fit for portal integration

### NotaryCam (PropLogos)

- Enterprise custom pricing
- SOAP/REST available for high-volume partners
- Real-estate focused

## Electronic Certified Mail APIs

### LetterStream — https://www.letterstream.com

| Dimension | Detail |
|-----------|--------|
| **Certified Mail** | $8.34/letter (as low as) — includes postage, tracking, signature |
| **First-Class** | $1.23/letter (as low as) |
| **Monthly fee** | $0 — no minimums |
| **API** | REST — activate by emailing support@letterstream.com after creating account |
| **API calls** | Send (single/batch), price check, PDF proof, status, Certified Mail tracing, signature retrieval, return envelopes, paper color |
| **Proof of delivery** | USPS tracking number + signature retrieval via API |
| **Activation speed** | "less than a day" per vendor |
| **Platform** | Web portal + API + apps + integrations (CASS, eDoc) |

### USPS Direct

- No public REST API
- Requires middleware (Endicia, Stamps.com, Pitney Bowes)
- Certified Mail ~$7.00 + Electronic Return Receipt ~$2.10

## Texas Compliance Notes

**RON (HB 3496 / SB 1624):**
- Two-way live audio-video communication required
- Identity proofing via credential analysis + knowledge-based authentication
- Audio-visual recording of the notarization session
- Electronic notary journal
- Tamper-evident digital certificate
- Notary must be Texas-commissioned; signer can be anywhere

**Certified Mail for legal service:**
- Texas Rules of Civil Procedure allow service by certified mail, return receipt requested
- Texas Business & Commerce Code recognizes electronic return receipts
- Physical USPS Certified Mail with tracking + signature meets legal standards

## Recommended Architecture

```
Debt Recovery Portal
├── Proof API ────── Notarize POA, identity verify
├── LetterStream ─── Send Certified Mail, retrieve signatures
└── Stripe Connect ─ Collect payment, disburse to customer
```

**Estimated per-debtor cost:** ~$37-48 + processing fees (notary $25-35 + ID $4 + certified mail $8.34 + Stripe ~3.15%+$0.30)

## Per-Transaction Pricing vs. Monthly Plans

When comparing SaaS APIs for a platform model, check whether the vendor charges:
- **Per-transaction** (good for variable volume — pay as you go)
- **Monthly subscription + per-transaction overage** (good for predictable volume)
- **Enterprise/annual commitment** (good for high volume — negotiate a custom rate)

Proof's Pro tier is per-transaction (no monthly commitment). Premium and Enterprise are annual. LetterStream is purely per-transaction with no monthly fees.
