UPON ARRIVAL AT DESTINATION; AN MD-80 FLIGHT CREW IS INFORMED BY MAINT PERSONNEL AT THE GATE THE ACFT HAD DEPARTED WITH KNOWN DAMAGE IN THE AFT CARGO HOLD.

Narrative

UPON ARR AT ZZZ AFTER AN UNEVENTFUL FLT; MAINT PERSONNEL WERE WAITING AT THE GATE TO NOTIFY US THAT WE HAD DEPARTED ZZZ1 WITH KNOWN DAMAGE TO THE AFT CARGO HOLD. APPARENTLY; ZZZ1 PERSONNEL HAD FOUND HOLES IN THE WALLS IN THE AFT CARGO HOLD; AND NEGLECTED TO SAY ANYTHING TO THE FLT CREW ABOUT IT. INSTEAD; STATION PERSONNEL HAD CONTACTED LOAD CTL; WHO TOLD THEM TO LOAD ALL BAGS AND CARGO IN THE MID CARGO HOLD SINCE THE DAMAGE WAS NOT CREW PLACARDABLE; SO CONTRACT MAINT WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE CALLED. THEY APPARENTLY ALSO INFORMED MAINT CTL; WHO FORWARDED THE MESSAGE TO ZZZ SO THE DAMAGE COULD BE REPAIRED OR PLACARDED. SO; IT SEEMS; EVERYONE WAS NOTIFIED EXCEPT THE FLT CREW; AND ALL THIS WAS DONE IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP FROM HAVING TO PAY FOR A MAINT CALL FROM CONTRACT MAINT IN ZZZ1. I CAN'T VOUCH FOR THE ACCURACY OF THE ACTIONS OF EVERYONE ELSE INVOLVED; BUT IT NEEDS TO BE DETERMINED IF PEOPLE INTENTIONALLY SENT US ON OUR WAY WITH KNOWN DAMAGE. I GUARANTEE THAT THE FAA FINE WOULD FAR EXCEED THE COST TO HAVE CONTRACT MAINT COME OUT AND REPAIR OR PLACARD THE DAMAGE.