I know you can't use chat or pm full members, unless, you're a full member yourself. You have to have, at least, 50 posts & been here for, at least, 14 days. Then, you can apply for that. I'm not sure, but, I think regular members are able to pm other regular members. Maybe someone who has been here longer could weigh in on that.
You could also just post on people's walls & exchange messages that way. It's not private, but, that's how I usually begin, until, it seems more of a friendship has been developed, then, we pm.
