A former student at one of B.C.'s most prestigious beauty schools says disciplinary actions taken against the institution have ended up punishing her as well.

Olivia Cartieri paid a $3,000 deposit and signed up for a year-long course at Dominelli International College of Esthetics in Burnaby earlier this year. But a few weeks into the course -- unusual things started happening.

Cartieri says supplies were not being refilled; the course schedule changed drastically and suddenly regulators suspended the school's licence.

"I was in shock," she said.

"I could not believe that this was going on. I was scared, nervous. It was a stressful place to be."

Cartieri says in the chaos the school wasn't living up to its contract to train her -- so she quit. But when she asked for her money back, she was denied.

Owner Rita Dominelli says her business hit hard times since estheticians stopped needing certification in B.C. but regulators only became involved when she tried to sell her building to make some money.

"The students themselves got panicked," she told CTV News.

"They thought 'oh my God, they're selling the building. What's happened?'"

Dominelli says her licence has been returned and she won't refund Cartieri's money because other students have also come back for the rest of their training.

"The education here was really, really good, they provide everything that we need," a student named Daniela told CTV.

Dominelli defends herself, and her school.

"If anybody keeps regulations, if anybody walks a straight line, its Rita Dominelli," she said. "I've been in it too long. Thirty-one years!"

The private career training institution agency -- which can force colleges to refund tuition -- would not comment on the case.

NDP critic Adrian Dix says that agency needs to protect students so they're not punished for problems at their schools.

"We've seen this in serious CTV reports on the industry and that's why we're calling for change," he said.

The whole mess has left Cartieri disillusioned. She says she might have to take her battle to the courts and has some advice for other students:

"Right now I would suggest they not go into school in B.C."

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Jon Woodward