JFactory::getUser() giving odd results - Joomla! Forum - community, help and support

i'm creating extension part of involves checking users id. run potential username through jfactory::getuser(); in example 2 here. code is

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$user_id=&jfactory::getuser($name);
if($user_id->id==0) {      //line 79
  $profile_link = $name;
} else {   
  $profile_link = '<a href="'.jroute::_('index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=userprofile&user='.$user_id->id).'">' . $name . '</a>';
}
echo $profile_link;

just clarification i've selected out relevant part of code. can see if username valid user link community builder profile. else echo out name (this being run through foreach loop of list of names).

i'm running 2 issues - don't seem expected.

1. if name doesn't exist. joomla posting error in system messages area.

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juser: :_load: user xxxx not exist

there php error of (note i've pointed out line 79 in code above):

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notice: trying property of non-object in moduleroot/tmpl/default.php on line 79

2. if user logged out whether name valid or not joomla finds $user_id->id 0. despite documentation stating should run regardless of status of current user.

can see wrong code? or else know if standards of jfactory::getuser() have changed since documentation written joomla 2.5?