Try sending a PM to the admins to ask. If a PM goes thhrough to them, you may have an answer. There may now be a minimum post count to access the PM system, similar to having a required post count before classified access. Other forums use this rule to keep scammers to a minimum. They may have added it when the forum software was changed over recently.
A newbie wanted to PM me and i tried to reach out to him but for some reason the PM icon does not show up on new members.
Maybe they have to reach certain post counts.