You have great scores, but they look at more than just scores. Something about your profile makes them uneasy, hence the low limit borderline $1k approval and subsequent CLI denial. Just give it time.
Also, I noticed you have 12 inquiries and 29 accounts. Are any of those inquiries/new accounts within, say, the last year? If you've been applying a lot and opening several new accounts within the last 12 months, that could also explain the borderline approval and CLI denial.
Just curious - how many of your existing accounts are new (less than a year old)? From where did the 12 inquiries originate (loan rate shopping or credit card apps...)? All 12 inquiries are all apparently under a year as I believe myFICO only lists the number of inquiries still affecting your score.
If you have many new accounts or excessive credit seeking (inquiries), that could be the reason you were a borderline approval at a 1K SL. It's a big 🚩 for anybody - has nothing to do with scores and/or income. This would also affect CLI approval. You may have to wait til all or most of your new accounts and inquiries reach a year (at the minimum, 6 months), before Amex will approve an increase - that is, assuming you don't app anymore...
OP, anyone can certainly understand the frustration of a possible denial of any CLI. We've all been there and will keep experiencing them for sure. Each profile/situation is different. With yours and Amex, your answers may only be less than 2 months back in this link of a post of yours below.
There was good info you gave from a recent Amex app denial you had as well as some other data points. It just may be that some of the same factors are a concern for Amex today or more patience and time is needed. Either way, you'll get there.
https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Card-Applications/Gold-card-denial-from-AMEX/m-p/6185752
@FinStar wrote:@Anonymous, echoing what's already mentioned by others upthread, your score is one slice of the entire pie they're looking as a whole.
For posterity, you shared the following reasons (and rebuttals) that AmEx provided during the Gold Card denial during mid-November, which hasn't really been that long. I'd be willing to venture it's possible the first and/or third reason(s) are still a factor, and while the others may have improved, your $1K approval is definitely indicative they're not comfortable yet to extend any additional exposure. You'll need to wait on the letter to see what reasons they recently provided.
-The length of time you have been a customer with American Express is too short. (True, i only have the Surpass Card which i got in September but i already recieved the welcome bonus 150,000 and in total 166,500)
-The number of credit card accounts on which, in our estimation, you have not paid a majority of the balance in recent months as indicated in your credit report. (Ok, my utilization is 15% of $25,000)
-The number of creditors who have reviewed your credit report. (True 6 in 2020)
-Your current balance in relation to the credit limit is too high. (Like i said, 15% of $25,000)
My goodness @FinStar we did it again 
and you got yours in a couple minutes before me.
@RonM21 wrote:
@FinStar wrote:@Anonymous, echoing what's already mentioned by others upthread, your score is one slice of the entire pie they're looking as a whole.
For posterity, you shared the following reasons (and rebuttals) that AmEx provided during the Gold Card denial during mid-November, which hasn't really been that long. I'd be willing to venture it's possible the first and/or third reason(s) are still a factor, and while the others may have improved, your $1K approval is definitely indicative they're not comfortable yet to extend any additional exposure. You'll need to wait on the letter to see what reasons they recently provided.
-The length of time you have been a customer with American Express is too short. (True, i only have the Surpass Card which i got in September but i already recieved the welcome bonus 150,000 and in total 166,500)
-The number of credit card accounts on which, in our estimation, you have not paid a majority of the balance in recent months as indicated in your credit report. (Ok, my utilization is 15% of $25,000)
-The number of creditors who have reviewed your credit report. (True 6 in 2020)
-Your current balance in relation to the credit limit is too high. (Like i said, 15% of $25,000)
My goodness @FinStar we did it again
I know right? It's like we're twinsies 😆🤩🙌
@FinStar wrote:
@RonM21 wrote:
@FinStar wrote:@Anonymous, echoing what's already mentioned by others upthread, your score is one slice of the entire pie they're looking as a whole.
For posterity, you shared the following reasons (and rebuttals) that AmEx provided during the Gold Card denial during mid-November, which hasn't really been that long. I'd be willing to venture it's possible the first and/or third reason(s) are still a factor, and while the others may have improved, your $1K approval is definitely indicative they're not comfortable yet to extend any additional exposure. You'll need to wait on the letter to see what reasons they recently provided.
-The length of time you have been a customer with American Express is too short. (True, i only have the Surpass Card which i got in September but i already recieved the welcome bonus 150,000 and in total 166,500)
-The number of credit card accounts on which, in our estimation, you have not paid a majority of the balance in recent months as indicated in your credit report. (Ok, my utilization is 15% of $25,000)
-The number of creditors who have reviewed your credit report. (True 6 in 2020)
-Your current balance in relation to the credit limit is too high. (Like i said, 15% of $25,000)
My goodness @FinStar we did it again
I know right? It's like we're twinsies 😆🤩🙌
😄😄 Hilarious! When i saw it, I couldn't believe it happened again. Just glad again we're giving the same message. I'd be embarrassed if I was wrong lol.