A DAD-OF-FOUR claims a “jobsworth” worker told him he could not have his scratched laptop replaced — because he had stepped one foot outside the door of the store with the computer.

Dale Covell said he was shocked when a manager at PC World in Trinity Retail Park allegedly accused him of scratching it — despite having just picked it up from being repaired.

The finance director originally paid £380 for the HP laptop last month — but after a number of technical problems he took it in to be fixed last week.

He picked it up from the store last Wednesday and noticed a large mark down the side as he was walking out.

But when he went back in to report the problem, he was told that because he had left the store, the firm would not accept responsibility for the damage.

Mr Covell, aged 32, said: “To say they wouldn’t replace it because I stepped one foot out of the door is a disgrace.

“I was still on their land. When a damage report was done on it when I initially dropped it off, the scratch wasn’t there. I look after my things. So for him to make out like I’d done it was insulting.”

Bosses at the store later had a change of heart and offered him a replacement. However, Mr Covell says had to pay an additional £50 for a higher spec model.

A spokesman for Currys & PC World said: “It is unfortunate that Mr Covell feels he had a poor experience in our store.

"We offered him several like-for-like replacement laptops as well as the option of a slightly higher-spec model. Mr Covell opted for the latter.

“Great customer service is at the heart of everything we do.”