why do people say they have a hot tub when they don't?

[Clare0]

@Tracy9 Your guess is as good as mine! Is this a place where you have (had) a reservation?  

[Tom49]

Any chance the house had a 'jetted bathtub'? Many homeowners don't know the difference between a jetted bathtub in the master suite and a portable hot tub or in-ground spa in the backyard.

I only work on the backyard type but I get between five and ten calls a month from people with jetted bathtubs installed in the bathroom who call them 'hot tubs' or 'jacuzzis'. It happens often enough that I ask a series of questions to avoid scheduling jobs on jetted bathtubs.