AIBU - expensive cleaner chatting on phone at work

[AliW68]

Our new'ish cleaner comes weekly for five hours. She charges $25 an hour which I think is top whack for our big US city. I agreed to that rate on the basis she is a professional cleaner so I was expecting a tip top job. The house is big by UK standards with a silly number of bathrooms (not a stealth boast - just the reality of housing here - in fact the US house cost significantly less than our one-bathroom tiny cottage in the UK) BUT I dont ask her to touch the bathrooms we aren't using and don't expect her to do guest room etc if they haven't been used. I also tidy up before she arrives so it's purely cleaning she has to do. Five hours should be ample I am confident.
Anyway, I feel like she's had time to get used to the house but she still doesn't do a fantastic job; it's just about okay; a bit hit and miss, with skirting boards left dusty, furniture cleaned around rather than under etc. And it's become apparent that she merrily chats on her phone a large part of the time she's working. In fact when she arrives she has her earphones plugged in and the smartphone ready to go. AIBU to think, especially for $25 an hour, I should have her focusing 100% on the job?

If you're not happy with the service she's providing you're within your rights to serve notice and recruit someone new.

YANBU

You need to speak to her about the standard of work you are expecting.
If she can manage to talk and work properly I'd let her chat but if she can't I'd let her go!

All cleaners that I've come across do this where we live in Spain. I wonder what they have to talk about for so long and to whom.

Our part-time nanny/housekeeper cleans when the house is empty so I have no idea whether she's on the phone then, but the house is always spotless and extra jobs are often done so I wouldn't mind if she were also chatting on the phone at the same time.

I learned when living in the UK that having a "team" of cleaners is far far better than just one. We didn't have a big house there either but they blitzed it very quickly. Where we are now we don't bother with cleaners as I think they have lower standards in North America. We just do it ourselves.

Why do you even have to ask?! She's not doing a good job, you don't like that she spends ages on the phone whilst at work. Just get rid! If you cant face telling her then maybe get someone else to do it but honestly, these things happen if employing people and you have to deal with it

She should not be on the phone while she's working, end of story. She can't possibly be paying proper attention to her work. You're paying her to clean, not gab with her friends.

Of course she should not be on the phone when at work. End of.
Even if she were being paid 1/2 what you are paying her

Just say "I'm not happy with the cleaning service. Please don't come again"

What 5rivers said

Can't see the issue with phone use myself. One of my cleaners used to have her headphones in the entire time, taking away. Sometimes singing whilst ironing (very badly 😂). She could still clean whilst hands free. But if the cleaning isn't up to scratch then sack her.

Thanks for all the backbone stiffening responses. I suspected I was being a colossal wimp.
The endless chatting was sort of fascinating. I can't imagine having cause or inclination to chat interminably like that. I did wonder if it was some sort of revenue-raising telephonic activity (friendship to lonely old people, perhaps?) Or, more likely, she only does it at my house become I'm such an obvious doormat!
Anyway, I've been emboldened to take terminative action and can now stop fretting about it, which is a relief! Thank you MNers.