I just tried for my 9-month CLI with AMEX, and I got the following "letter" from them:
Thank you for your recent request for a credit limit increase. We're writing to let you know we're unable to approve your request at this time for the following reason(s):
Your overall debt with other creditors listed in your credit bureau report and the credit limits on your American Express Cards is high in relation to your reported income.
As you continue to manage your accounts, we recommend you take advantage of the tools we offer at americanexpress.com/managemycard. You can check your balances, make payments, set up account alerts and learn more about ways you can protect your credit.
If you have any questions, please call 1-800-952-7562 or write to us at the address above. To learn more about protecting your credit, visit our Consumer Resources page at americanexpress.com/consumerresources.
Thank you for your Cardmembership.
Sincerely,
Andrew Skinner
VP Global New Accounts
We've provided an important notice below concerning your rights. The creditor is American Express Centurion Bank.
When I applied, the following balances were reported on my CR:
Bank of America: $50
My Barclaycard statement recently cut, and is now reporting a $0 balance. But last month, the balance was $57.
That's all of the debt that I have reported on my credit report. Because of that, I feel like the "Your overall debt with other creditors listed in your credit bureau report" is very strange. $50 is a very small fraction of my overall available credit (and so is $107). Why do you think AMEX gave that as a decline reason?
Also, the second reason "credit limits on your American Express Cards is high in relation to your reported income." Does that mean I shouldn't bother asking for another CLI from them until I graduate with my Masters and (hopefully) have a better paying job?
Amex generally uses their last SP for the 3x cli so your utl could have looked substantially different than what your cr showed on the day you applied. Just a thought. Sorry about that news!
I got the same decline for my Amex BCE 61 day, they stated something like
"Your overall debt obligations, as reflected in our records and in your credit report, are high relative to your financial resouces known to us" 
OH WELL
Then a week later, I app'd for the HHonors and was instantly approved with another 2k 
That's all for now and not going to "poke" the bear again!
I have a feeling they may be referring to your current available credit limits . What is your actual reported income?
@toppers555 wrote:I have a feeling they may be referring to your current available credit limits . What is your actual reported income?
$16k. I think that you are probably right. I would loved to have gotten a second account with a CL above $5k, though .
@chwebb1 wrote:
@toppers555 wrote:I have a feeling they may be referring to your current available credit limits . What is your actual reported income?
$16k. I think that you are probably right. I would loved to have gotten a second account with a CL above $5k, though
That really explains it, no CC company especially AMEX is going to give you a credit line that is equal to, or more then your annual income. Way too much of a risk, on the bright side you CL are already pretty good.
@blondy250 wrote:
@chwebb1 wrote:
@toppers555 wrote:I have a feeling they may be referring to your current available credit limits . What is your actual reported income?
$16k. I think that you are probably right. I would loved to have gotten a second account with a CL above $5k, though
That really explains it, no CC company especially AMEX is going to give you a credit line that is equal to, or more then your annual income. Way too much of a risk, on the bright side you CL are already pretty good.
They definitely are. I'm happy with my AMEX CLs. I'd love to get a CLI on my Citi, Discover, and Barclaycard, though. Especially Discover. I use that card a lot. So do you think that I should probably quit asking AMEX for CLIs?