Vincent (27) cannot indicate birth, so his son does not officially exist: « It’s a hell »
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Vincent (27) from Lobbes, Walloon, is the brand new father of Clément. Since a month he has been trying to give his son to the municipality, but it just won’t work. With all its consequences. « We don’t go anywhere, out of fear that he gets sick and we have to go to the doctor. »
Vincent contacted RTL himself because he is desperate. He has been trying to register his son for a month. Due to technical problems it is not possible. « For weeks they say at the municipality that it is almost resolved, but I am still waiting, » says the tired father. On the phone, it is claimed every time that an computer scientist is coming to the municipal services, but the problem is not solved.
In the meantime, Clément is a month old and not yet registered. That has major consequences. « He does not officially exist for the state, » explains father Vincent, « so he has no national register number and is not covered by social security. That is also a problem with the payment of parental leave. It is a hell. »
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Since the baby is not registered as a person at the expense of his parents, medical and other costs are not reimbursed. Fortunately, the brand new parents can go to the hospital where Clément was born. He does exist there officially, not elsewhere. « We don’t go anywhere, out of fear that he gets sick and we have to go to the doctor or another hospital, » said the father.
According to the mayor of Lobbes, Steven Royez (Les Engagés), the problems are a change from provider. The municipal services switched from Proximus to Dstiny. The transition had to go smoothly, but that turned out not to be the case. Various services are affected by the problem. « It is impossible to deliver extracts from the criminal record, birth and deaths and relocation confirmations to people, » said the mayor.
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The municipality works together with Dstiny to solve the problems. Some services are already working, but not the birth certificates. The problem there would be more complicated, says Royez. According to Het Laatste Nieuws he received from the provider, the problem is almost solved. « To be safe, I will say that it is solved within this and a week. » Vincent is not convinced. « They tell me that every week. »
