You can finally get refunds for gig tickets, thanks to Dice

Your favourite band is finally coming to your town -- and even though you've bought tickets, you can't make the show. Whether it's work, illness or a lack of funds that's got in the way, you take to Facebook with the plaintive cry "Anyone want two tickets to see [insert band name] tonight?"

Fortunately, UK ticket-selling app Dice now gives you refunds on gig tickets you've bought through the app. So if you can't make it, notify the app and the ticket goes to the next person on the waiting list. You don't end up out of pocket, the venue doesn't miss out on your presence, and people who couldn't get a ticket don't have to turn to touts or scalpers.

If it's a show run by Dice, you can apply for a refund pretty much right up to the moment the band walks out on stage. If not, you should still be able to apply for a refund up to the day of the gig, but it varies by show.

There is a slight catch: it's only for sold-out shows. If you can't make a show that hasn't sold out, you're still out of pocket or you have to get rid of the ticket yourself. Still, this is a step in the right direction for the ticketing industry.

Battling ticket reselling by touts is an increasing headache for ticket sellers like Ticketmaster and Stubhub. Amazon also recently got into the gig ticket game with VIP treatment for Prime customers.