There are a few possible sources of this problem.
It's very likely that your lovebird is experiencing mites. The same reason that you may feel the need to scratch your skin if it feels itchy or irritated, your parrot may be responding to irritation it feels from mites. (Source:
http://www.petpublishing.com/birdtimes/ ... foot.shtml)
Your lovebird may also have some kind of internal infection which causes the feet to become irritated. If the lovebird is having an allergic reaction on its feet to something, it may be trying to scratch off the skin of its feet by biting it. (Source:
http://www.parrotsite.com/feather-picking.html)
Your bird is new so it most likely got the pests/mites or infection in the store, but it doesn't completely rule out that a change in environment may have incited the behavior. If you signed an agreement with the store, breeder etc. for a health guarantee for a time period, you may still be eligible for a return, exchange or compensation for treatment. Contact where you got the lovebird from and contact a vet.
Since you are having trouble getting your parrot, use a towel if you need to. After you have resolved this situation, be sure to work on hand taming so that your lovebird will be comfortable with you if it is suffering ever again and you need to handle it. Obviously you haven't had enough time with it and this could be a bad start, but I think it can be worked out.